February DPROA General Membership Meeting Minutes

by | Feb 25, 2022 | Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 @ 11:00 am

The February 2022 General Membership meeting of the Dallas Police Retired Officers Association took place at the A.C. Garrett Masonic Lodge, 7119 E. Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX 75223          Present:           President David Elliston

Vice President Sally Lannom

Secretary Ken Seguin

Treasurer Crista Walker

Treasurer-elect David Potts

Director Joe Richtsmeier

Director Dale Erves

DFR Advisor Larry Williams

Absent:            Director Boux Bland

Communications Director Carol Richtsmeier

  1. President Elliston called the meeting to order at 11:00 am.
  2. President Elliston introduced guest speaker, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva M. Guzman to the membership.
  3. Justice Guzman addressed the membership regarding her candidacy for the office of Texas Attorney General during the upcoming primary election in March 2022.  She discussed the following points:
    • Opposes any effort to take away Qualified Immunity from Texas peace officers
    • Opposes mask and Covid vaccination mandates as she believes these are personal health decisions
    • She wants to secure the Texas border shared with Mexico to prevent illegal crossings
    • She provided names of various public safety organizations which have already endorsed her
    • She was one of seven children in her family, all of whom earned college degrees
    • Her husband, Tony Guzman, is a retired Houston Police Officer with 37 years of service; she understands and “Backs the Blue”
    • She and Tony have one daughter – Melanie
    • She has served as a judge on various courts for 22 years to include nearly 12 years on the Texas Supreme Court
    • She believes her experience on the Texas Supreme Court greatly qualifies her over the other three candidates for the office of Texas Attorney General (incumbent Ken Paxton currently under indictment, George P. Bush, and US Representative Louie Gohmert)
  4. Justice Guzman and her aide, Avery Martinez departed following her presentation.
  5. President Elliston led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance.
  6. Director Erves delivered the invocation.
  7. President Elliston announced the names of the 12 police and firefighters who had passed away during the month of January 2022 according to the DPFPS website.
  • Police
    • Christopher Gibson, Richard Crosby, Larry Barbee, Ralph Carr,
  • Fire
    • W. Haday, Gary Harper, Danny Beck, David Nunns, Gerry Friday, James Blackburn, W.G. Dyer, A.M. Harrell
  1. The minutes from the January 2022 meeting had been previously posted on the DPROA website.  A motion was made by member Jimmie Beard to accept the minutes as posted; seconded by member Frank Ruspoli.  Motion carried by acclamation with none opposed.
  2. President Elliston reported that the SSL certificate issue is still being worked.
  3. President Elliston reminded the membership that annual dues were supposed to be paid by January 31, 2022.
  4. President Ellison advised that the board was still ‘tweaking’ a recommended process by Vice President Lannom for giving endorsements to candidates for political office.
  5. Treasurer Walker reported that the total funds in DPROA accounts amounted to $948,732.27.  She also mentioned various ways of making monthly or annual payments that are available to the membership.  Vice President Lannom specifically pointed out the auto-deduction from monthly retirement checks that could be arranged with DPFPS.
  6. President Elliston reminded the membership that the DPFPS board would be meeting on February 10, 2022 to discuss a “communications plan” on HB3158, now viewed as only a “bridge” to make the Police & Fire Pension Plan solvent.
  7. President Elliston reported that the DPROA attorney, George Vie, had answered with a written counter-filing to the DPFPS filing to the 192nd Judicial District Court regarding the Annual Adjustment & Benefit Supplement lawsuit.  President Elliston has not yet had an opportunity to review the document.  A hearing is scheduled before the court on February 17, 2022 to hear the DPROA motion by Mr Vie and the motion by the DPFPS.
  8. President Elliston advised that DPFPS board trustee Gilbert Garcia was ‘terming out” on his role as a trustee.  President Elliston remains in contact with Rick Salinas of the Retired Hispanic Firefighters Association regarding a possible replacement.
  9. President Elliston took a straw poll to determine the feelings of the membership in attendance regarding an endorsement of Justice Eva Guzman.  All members present and voting supported an endorsement; none were opposed.
  10. President Elliston reminded the membership that the next meeting would be on March 9, 2022.
  11. President Elliston advised that, regarding endorsements, he would make inquiry into reelection campaigns for State Representatives Bryan Slaton and Yvonne Davis.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:54 am.

//s//

Kenneth E. Seguin

Secretary

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