Public Employee Press

Special training for special officers

Promoting professionalism, Local 1482 worked with Brooklyn Public Library management to improve security standards by supporting training for officers at York College.

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

The enemies of organized labor often attack unions for impeding productivity. But in the case of the Brooklyn Public Library, it was an unpopular manager who undermined the ability of Special Officers to protect patrons and facilities through her policies, which union members regarded as backward.

Well, the security chief is now gone, replaced by a manager with a more enlightened outlook.

And more than 85 dedicated Special Officers are now participating in an intensive training program to help them hone their skills and earn and maintain their peace officer status. Two years ago, most of the security workforce was deeply demoralized because the manager was hurting the prestige of their profession. These days, the workers feel empowered by a reinvigorated sense of mission to guarantee public safety at a big city library system.

“The training course is the result of a long battle we fought for our Special Officers,” said Eileen Muller, president of Brooklyn Library Guild Local 1482.

“I really loved it,” said Special Officer Crystal Springer, who was one of the first officers to take a four-week course at York College’s Public Safety Academy. “You are much more confident after going through it.”

The comprehensive course has elements of a boot camp with rigorous exercise, ranging from push-ups and running to handling physical confrontations and cuffing culprits. Classroom studies include detailed instruction on the role and power of peace officers. (While a cop may arrest someone on the basis of suspicion, a peace officer needs probable cause — a concrete reason — to detain someone.) Other topics include ethics, communications skills, rules and regulations, state laws and how to deal with specific crimes.

“A lot of people see us as security guards,” said another graduate, Michael Fernandez. “But a peace officer has more responsibilities and the right to make an arrest. A security guard only has the right to make a citizen’s arrest. If you are a peace officer, the state will back you up.”

The controversial security chief promoted a “soft look,” seeking to have the Special Officers replace their uniforms with blue blazers, burgundy ties and gray pants. Members felt the change in image significantly undermined their authority.

The former security chief put an end to training — jeopardizing the workers’ peace officer status. She depleted the ranks of Special Officers through attrition and opened up the possibility of contracting out, which the union fought.

Some members felt she was biased against minorities and accused her of being too quick to threaten employees.

Former DC 37 Rep Audrey McConney, who now heads the union’s Hospitals Division, said the former security chief harassed workers and disrespected their rights.

From demoralization to a happy ending
The union fight-back included a group grievance led by Blue Collar Vice President Sgt. Robert Wright to press the library for training. Muller held numerous meetings with management, counting on the support of McConney, Professional Division Director Stephanie Velez and Assistant Director Hector Coto, and Associate Director Evelyn Seinfeld of the Research and Negotiations Dept. Executive Director Lillian Roberts provided powerful backing with a strong letter to library management.

The library agreed to set up a committee with union representation to deal with security, and it commissioned a study, which was critical of the former security chief’s administration. Members ultimately signed a petition demanding her ouster.

“There was a lot of anger and bitterness among our members as they felt their professional work was being demeaned,” Muller said. “But, happily, the library’s top management ultimately chose to work with us. Our members are becoming more skilled, and that will ultimately make the facilities safer.”