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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of the Bozeman Police Dept_Chapter 10 1 Chapter 10 ' Board of Trugtees_First Meetiu~* The City of Bozeman started deductions from salaries for the Police Reserve Fund in July 1939. The deduction was at the rate of 1 '/Z% of salary. In the mid 1930's, the Montana Legislature, by statute, authorized cities to establish a police retirement system. Each city was responsible for their awn system and the management of funds deposited into the Police Reserve Fund. An officer had to work 20 years in order to be eligible for retirement. When an officer wanted to retire, a written request was directed to the Board of Trustees for their consideration and their recommendation was forwarded to the City Commission for approval. The retirement benefit was based on one-half of the officer's salary. 0 n 0 Prior to 1976, the various retirement systems in many cities across Montana were experiencing great financial problems. Some cities were spending more in monthly retirement benefits than they were being able to deposit from active officer's contributions. As a result of this financial concern, the Montana Legislature, by statute, took control of all retirement systems in cities of first and second class size. The State of Montana made same major changes in the police retirement system. All retirement funds on deposit in cities throughout Montana were turned aver to the State. Officers hired prior to July 1, 1976 had a 6% deduction from salary and thane officers hired after that date had a deduction of 7 '/z% of salary. The 20 year retirement was gone. Officers hired after the July 1, 1976 date had to work at least 20 years and until age 50. Officers employed prior to this date were still under the 20 year retirement program. Retirement benefits for officers hired after the July 1, 1976 date were based on the average of last three years. Officers hired prior to that date received one-half of their highest monthly salary in the last 12 month period. Today, the Police Officer's Retirement System is solvent and the unfunded liability has been greatly reduced. Once again, through legislative change, all affcers only need to work 20 years for a full retirement with additional percentages added for each year after 20 years of service. The first meeting of the Board of Trustees that was held on August 30~', 1945 was an important event for the Bozeman Police Officer. It was the beginning of your retirement fund. This meeting was also important in the fact that the first Bozeman Police Officer was afforded a benefit for retirement from the Bozeman Police Department. Captain Alfred E. Anderson would retire after 20 years of service and receive a monthly benefit amounting to $86.15. 64 0 1 Bozeman, Montana August 30`", 1945 The Board of Trustees of the Police Reserve Fund of the City of Bozeman, established pursuant to law and of Ordinance No. 732 of the City of Bozeman, met in the Commission Room, City Hall building, Bozeman, Montana, at 3:30 o'clock P.M. for the purpose of effecting organization and the transaction of such business as might regularly come before it. There were present Mayor J. Harry Healy, City Attorney Aitken, and Chief of Police Haas and Alfred E. Anderson, the latter two as regularly elected members of the Board from the active list of police officers. Clerk of the City Commission, L.G. Shadoan, was absent on account of illness. It was moved by Mayor Healy, seconded by Chief of police Haas, that the City Attorney act as secretary pro tem and the motion was carried. A certificate of election by the Police Department of the City of Bozeman of A.N. Haas and Alfred E. Anderson as members of the Board representing the Police Department was presented as having been filed with the Clerk of the City Commission, found to be in due fontt and ordered filed as a part of the records of the Board. Walter Davis, as Director of Finance of the City of Bozeman, presented his certificate showing the amount of the police Reserve Fund as of August 30, 1945, in cash and securities in his custody as Director of Finance, to be the sum of $10,971.17, consisting of cash in the sum of $648.17 and United States Government bonds in the principal sum of $10,323.00 as follows: U.S_ Defense Band Series F No. Q13659F $ 18.50 U. S. Defense Band Series F No. Q 13660F 18.50 U.5. Defense Bond Series F No. C 115269F 74.00 U. S. Defense Band Series F No. C 115270F 74.00 U.S. Defense Bond Series F Na. M116861F 740.00 U.S. Defense Bond Series F No. V7461F 3,700.00 U.S. Defense Bond Series F Na. D154253F 370.00 U.S. Defense Band Series F No. M374448F 740.00 U.S. Defense Bond Series F No. M374447F 740.00 U. S. Defense Bond Series F No. C931626F 74.00 U. S. Defense Bond Series F Na. C931627F 74.00 U.S. Defense Bond Series F Na. D280887F 370.00 U.S. Defense Bond Series F Na. M78500SF 740.00 U. S. Defense Bond Series F No. M785006F 740.00 U.S. Defense Bond Series F No. M872156F 740.00 U.S. Savings Bond Series F No. M872155F 740.00 6S U.S. Savings Bond Series F No. D281418F 370.00 Cash 648.17 ' Total Cash & Securities $10,971.17 By motion duly made and carried the Secretary was authorized to procure a ' record book in which to keep the minutes of the Board's proceedings and other necessary supplies, the cost thereofto be charged against the Police Reserve Fund. The formal application of Alfred E. Anderson, an active member of the Bozeman Police force, far retirement to the Police Reserve as provided by the Montana Statute and Ordinance No. 732 of the City of Bozeman was presented and read. The application stating that he has become of retirement age and having served on the active Police force for over twenty years. The Board having duly considered said application and finding the same to be regular and the facts as stated in the application to be true it was moved by Aitken, seconded by Haas that in accordance with the Montana Statute, the Board of Trustees of the Police Reserve Fund recommend to the City Commission that Alfred E. Anderson be placed on the reserve list of the Police force of the City of Bozeman and be paid one-half of his salary he was receiving as an active member of the Police force, one-half amounting to $86.15 per month, to be paid monthly from the Police Reserve Fund, and the motion was•carried by the following Aye and No vote; those voting Aye being Healy, Aitken, and Haas; those voting No, none. Anderson did not vote. It was reported that Ordinance No. 732 provides that the time for the regular meetings of the Trustees of the Police Reserve Fund, should be set at this meeting. Tt was moved and seconded that the two meeting to be held each year be held on January 10`i' and July 10~', unless they fall on a Sunday or a holiday and in that case the meeting shall be held on the following legal day, and the motion was carried. There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, it was moved by Mr. Haas, seconded by Mr. Aitken, that the meeting adjourn subject to the call of the Chairman, and the motion was carried unanimously. Attest: W. Aitken, Secretary Pro Tem J.H. Healy, Chairman As you will read in the minutes of the second meeting of the Board of Trustees eligibility was an issue. Since July 1939, the City Janitor and Jailer, Con Hollingsworth 66 contributed 1 '/Z% of his salary into the Police Reserve Fund. The matter of being the City Jailer and his eligibility for the police retirement system was discussed and the Board felt the Chief of Police and the City Manager should determine if the City Jailer is a member of the Police force. Since 1939, the salary of Con Hollingsworth as Janitor and Jailer was as follows with payments shown made to the Police Reserve Fund: ' Janitor Jailer Police Reserve Fund 1939 125.00/month 60.00 65.00 5.82 1940 1941 125.00/month 125.00/month 60.00 60.00 65.00 65.00 11.64 11.64 1942 155.00/month 70.00 85.00 14.95 1943 155.00/6 months 70.00 85.00 ' 1943 162.25/6 months 80.00 82.25 15.12 1944 162.26/month 80.00 82.25 15.00 ' 1945 162.25/5 months 80.00 82.25 5.00 u The total amount deposited during this period into the Police Reserve Fund was $79.17. Today, the average retirement benefit deduction from the salary of an officer is around $250.00 per month. It is also interesting to note that during this period of time pay raises did not occur each year. The minutes of this second meeting are as follows. Bozeman, Montana January 10',1946 ' The Board of Trustees of the Police Reserve Fund of the City of Bozeman, met in regular session in the Commission Roam, City Hall building, at 4:00 o'clock P.M. Those being present were Mayor J.H. Healy, City Attorney Aitken, Chief of Police Haas, ' Officer V.J. Buckman and the Clerk ofthe City Commission, when the following proceeding were had to-wit: The minutes of the last meeting of the Board were read, and it was moved by Mr. Haas, seconded by Mr. Aitken that the minutes be approved as read, and the motion was carried unanimously. Attention was called to the fact that A.E. Anderson has retired from active duty on the Police force and by reason of his retirement there is a vacancy on this Board, and pursuant to the Montana Statute and Ordinance No.732 of the City of Bozeman, that the Chief of Police has appointed Mr. V.J. Buckman, who is a member of the active Police force, to fill said vacancy and said appointment having been filed with the Clerk ofthe 67 n Commission, it was moved by Aitken, seconded by Haas that Mr. V.J. Ruckman be formally received as a member of this Board and the motion was carried unanimously. ' The matter of the City Bailer being a member of the Police Reserve and as such being entitled to participate in the benefits of the Police Reserve Fund by contributing ' 1 '/z% of his monthly salary into the fund was discussed, and it was concluded that if the City Jailer is a member of the Police force, then he should be entitled to become a ' member of the Police Reserve, but the Chief of Police and the City Manager should determine if the City Jailer is a member of the Police force . It appearing that there is now in the Police Reserve Fund uninvested cash in the ' sum of $1,594.42, it was moved by Mr. Aitken, seconded by Mr. Haas that the Director of Finance be authorized to invest $1,000.00 of Police Reserve monies in securities of the ' U. S. Government or of the State of Montana, and the motion was camied by the following Aye and No vote; those voting Aye being Healy, Haas, Aitken, Ruckman and Shadoan; those voting No, none. ' Th b i f ere e ng no urther business to came before the Board at this time, it was moved and seconded that the meeting adjourn and the motion was carried by the ' following Aye and No vote; those voting Aye being Healy, Haas, Aitken, Ruckman and Shadoan; those voting No, none. Attest: L.G. Shadoan, Secretary J.H. Healy, Chairman 6, ~