Submitted by Stephen James, President, Long Beach Police Officers Association
The board of directors of the Long Beach Police Officers Association has issued the following statement in response to Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach’s attack on the law enforcement officers in Orange County.
Supervisor Moorlach’s disdain for the county employees who protect the residents by putting their lives on the line each and every day has been evident for quite some time. It wasn’t long ago that Moorlach referred to Orange County’s finest as “thugs,” a statement that remains an insult to all law enforcement officers in this great state.
The latest assault by Moorlach was perpetrated on the 31st when he brought forward an item to his fellow supervisors in which he asked them to rescind pension benefits that were earned through the bargaining process.
Mr. Moorlach’s unbridled contempt could not be more evident than his callous stance that will not only affect the lives of all of the current deputies, but also those who have retired under the current system. Moorlach has proudly stated that many retirees will lose portions of their fixed incomes following Tuesday’s unanimous approval of his position.
Mr. Moorlach is the same supervisor who, according to the Los Angeles Times, had no problem spending nearly $200,000 to “upgrade” his office, including a single desk for $9,000.
If Mr. Moorlach wants to save the taxpayers money, maybe he should start with his own spending habits. This approval will likely cost taxpayers millions of dollars in court on this frivolous lawsuit aimed at taking away a benefit that was mutually agreed upon.
It is clearly no accident that Mr. Moorlach has chosen the date of September 11th, 2007, the deadliest day in American history for public safety personnel, as the date in which he wants County Council to return with proposals.
This date is simply being employed to further lash out at all law enforcement in this country.
The irony is not lost on the fact that with Moorlach’s proposal passed, he is in effect, killing off the Orange County Deputy Sheriffs Department.
Current deputies will transfer at a staggering rate to any one of the dozens of other agencies in Southern California who will still have the retirement formula that Moorlach is trying to take away from the deputies. The County will not be able to hire enough people to fill the vacancies that will be created.
Moorlach is putting the safety of the community at risk to further his childish vendetta against law enforcement.
