Retired Seattle Police Officers Association
 

Pension Office News | April 2017

PENSION OFFICE NEWS

Pension Board Nominations

Notice that Seattle Police Pension Board Nomination period is open. Pursuant to RCW 41.26.010, written notice is hereby given, via this announcement, that the nomination period is now open through May 25th, 2017 for one member-elected Trustee position on the Seattle Police Pension Board.

The Trustee position of the Seattle Police Relief and Pension and LEOFF I Disability Board runs from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. Only LEOFF I and Pre-LEOFF active duty or retired sworn members of the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Police Relief and Pension Fund are eligible for nomination and election to this position.

Candidates must be willing and able to perform sometimes complex, confidential, and fiduciary duties including attendance and participation in at least one business meeting per quarter, plus other tasks as the Board may require. No compensation is authorized for serving on the Pension Board.

Eligible candidates who wish to file for nomination and stand for election may obtain a nomination form by contacting the Pension Office at 206-386-1286, via fax at 206-386-9075, or by email at daniel.oliver@seattle.gov, or you may pick up a nomination form during business hours at the Seattle Police Pension Office – 700 5th Avenue, Suite 1862, Seattle, 98124 throughout the nomination period.

All completed and properly endorsed (by not less than five members of the fund) nomination forms must be physically filed with (returned to) the Seattle Police Pension Office no later than 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 23rd, 2017, in order to be valid.

The actual election will be held on Thursday, June 8th, 2017 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Police Headquarters lobby on 5th and Cherry.

Premium Sharing Reimbursement

Now is the time for the bi-annual (December – May) premium sharing reimbursement for those members that have an active employer provided healthcare coverage. You must request this reimbursement in writing with proof of payments. Any questions, call Jan at 206-386-1286, option #2.

City Check

For those retirees receiving a City excess benefit check from the City in addition to their State DRS check, remember: the 2017 State COLA effective at the end of April, increased the DRS check 2.28%, which will reduce your City excess benefit check.


 

NEW SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RETIREMENTS

There is one Plan II retirement, and one Plan I retirement to report this month.


Steve Macomber #3573, was born in Yakima. He grew up in the Yakima Valley working on the family ranch until he was sixteen. Then the family moved to Sumner. Upon graduating from Sumner High in 1968, Steve enlisted in the Army. When his three-year enlistment was done, he signed up with the Army Reserves. Then he returned to the Pacific Northwest. The economy was slowing down, jobs were difficult to find. Steve applied to be a Seattle Police Officer. The Department was hiring because of the civil unrest and anti-war demonstrations. However, he was several months too young to be an officer, so he was hired as a cadet. When he turned 21, there was a short-term hiring freeze for police officers. The Department kept him as a cadet for another twelve months. During these months, he worked East and West Patrol, Burglary, Homicide, Juvenile and the jail. He married Sharyl a few months before he became an Academy Class #73 recruit, in the fall of 1973. Three months later he finished the Academy and was sworn. Just in time, because he was about to become a family man and needed the pay increase, even though he was earning a little money in the Army Reserves.

Steve’s first partner was Dick Duval #3450. They meshed so good together that they stayed partners for the almost eight years. They worked David, Charlie, George, Robert, and Sam Sectors. Then Steve became a detective assigned to Juvenile. And, Dick remained in Patrol and made sergeant in 1984.

In 1983, Steve was assigned to witness protection detail for the lone survivor of the Wah Mee Massacre (of 13 murder victims) in the International District. It took the uninformed David Sector Beatmen only forty-five minutes to locate the super-double-secret safe house. After the trial in which the suspects were convicted, Steve was assigned to the South Precinct’s Burglary & Theft Squad. In 1993, he retired from the reserves as a First Sergeant. He continued his Burglary posting. In 2009, when the Department attritted the Juvenile Section, Steve and the rest of the de-centralized Burglary detectives inherited the cases. His prior assignment in Juvenile got him designated as the trainer for handling these cases and dealing with the Youth Center’s juvenile system. Steve worked South until March 14, 2017, completing a total of 46 years on the Department.

In retirement, Steve and Sharyl are going to spend time in their cabin on Rimrock Lake in Eastern Washington, hunting, fishing, and hiking. And of course, they will be working to make the cabin into a second home.

Erik Johnson #5116, was born and raised in Seattle. He graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1980. During his school years, he did not participate in sports because he was a student of Yun’s Tai Kwan Do Studio in the 4300 block of University Way. After four years, he earned his black belt and competed.

After high school, Erik went into the construction trade. He went to Seattle Central Community College to earn a two-year degree in construction practices for commercial concrete work. Then he started night class in police science. He began applying to various departments. He was hired by Seattle in 1987.

Erik’s first assignment was 3rd Watch West Precinct for four years. His partner was Dave Lishner #5114, an Academy mate. About this time, Erik began to compete in high-power rifle shooting, with open sights at 200, 300 and 600 yard targets. The rifles were basic military configuration – no customized gadgets. He attained Higher Master Class which means a 97% accuracy average across the entire range course.

In 1991, his partner Dave transferred to Vice. So, Erik transferred to the North Precinct 2nd Watch for the next 26 years. In 1997, he began assisting at the Range as a line instructor right up to his final day on the job.

In 2009, Erik was dispatched to the Fremont Bridge to a suspicious despondent man threatening to jump off the lower level cat walk. Fire, including a Battalion Chief, was already on the scene. The suspect was very agitated, yelling at the firefighters who were gearing up to repel down to the him. Erik asked the Battalion Chief, “what is your plan, because this guy is not only threatening to jump, but also threatening to hurt your guys.” The Chief said the firefighters, once in gear, were going over the edge and rescue the suspect. Erik replied, “what if he attacks your crew with a weapon while they are suspended in the repelling gear?” The Chief said, “you’ll shoot him.” Erik replied, “I’ll try, but the suspect has the advantage of reaction time, and unpredictable movement in a melee with your crew, so I might miss my shots, thus not stopping the attack, or worse yet, wound a firefighter.” By this time, the firefighter started to look at their Battalion Chief and really slowed up their preparations to repel. Then Erik suggested why not wait for SWAT and the negotiators. The Battalion Chief agreed. The relieved firefighters came over and thanked Erik profusely.

He, like the majority of our officers, serve in the backbone of police work – Patrol. After 30 years, Erik retired. He and his wife moved to Idaho on 16 acres. They plan to do a lot of hunting, fishing, and riding ATVs side by side.