PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By David Mahoney
Another summer come and gone! As this issue of the Wisconsin Police Journal reaches each of our members, we find ourselves entering a new fall season of changing colors and temperatures.
At WPPA, we continue to experience change as well. Jim Palmer continues to lead our legislative agenda at the State Capitol but because his duties encompass a much broader level of responsibilities, Jim’s official title has changed from Lobbyist to Director of Governmental Affairs. In addition, at the September 2005 meeting of the Board of Directors, Jim was given the additional duties of Assistant Executive Director.
Upon the retirement of Jeff Berlin, we have hired Mary Glynn as Staff Attorney. Mary is a welcome addition to the “WPPA Team,” bringing not only a legal background, but also experience both in communications and finance. She will be working from the Madison office assisting business agents and members.
Executive Director Tom Bahr and I attended the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) Convention in July and continue to work with our national representatives on programs which protect the safety of all our members. Additionally, Tom and I, along with Director of Legal Services Gordon McQuillen, just returned from the NAPO TOP COPS Awards® Ceremony in Washington, D.C., where we gathered with hundreds of other law enforcement officers from across the United States to honor the top ten case studies and officers involved. WPPA is very proud that among the top ten TOP COPS recognized were City of Madison Police Officers Shane Pueschner, Philip Yahnke, and Jean Papalia for an incident which occurred on March 9, 2004. Officers Pueschner, Yahnke, and Papalia are featured on the cover of the October issue of the Wisconsin Police Journal, and you can read the story about them on pages 6 and 7.
At the September meeting of the WPPA Board of Directors, we were honored to welcome Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle who shared with us some of his goals for the state. It is always gratifying when elected leaders reach out to the WPPA, acknowledging that we are the leading organization in representing law enforcement officers and other municipal employees.
In closing, enjoy upper Michigan and Wisconsin’s fall season, for it too will pass much too soon.
Until we meet again, take care of those who take care of you. Be safe!
