Leadership Profile: IBPO Local 569 President John Rossi
IBPO Local 569 President John Rossi has been a police officer for 23 years, and involved with the IBPO for nearly all of them—a practice he urges younger officers to emulate.
"I think it is extremely important for young members of any police department to become involved early on in their local union," said Rossi, a detective corporal with the East Providence, Rhode Island police department. "I always tell new police officers to attend meetings, run for office, speak up gain a voice and control your destiny. It's your union!"
Like many local union leaders, Rossi is acutely aware of the need to balance the needs of his members with the economic realities the city faces. With innovative thinking, a strong executive board, and 'no sugarcoating,' said Rossi, he believes his local has reached a workable balance while maintaining critical officer safety. "Sometimes it is a difficult message to communicate to your membership but you have to be truthful with your members and sometimes extremely blunt. Working for a bankrupt community doesn't serve anyone's best interest."
The proof that Rossi and his local are doing something right? His department delivers the lowest crime rate per capita in the state of Rhode Island, in an area particularly hard hit by the economic downturn.
Despite their successes, however, the members of IBPO Local 569 have had their problems with the city, two of which Rossi counts as his greatest struggles as a local president. In October 2009, East Providence City Manager Richard Brown laid off 13 police officers, violating specific portions of the collective bargaining agreement in the process. Thanks to decisive action from Rossi, his local, and staff from the national IBPO, Local 569 negotiated a package with the city that offered concessions and a voluntary early retirement to qualifying officers. The deal gave the 13 laid-off officers the chance to return to work, an achievement Rossi considers one of his proudest moments.
In May of 2009, the city hired a new chief of police from outside the ranks of the department, a move that he said broke the understanding in the collective bargaining agreement, as well as 120 years of tradition. The case is now in arbitration, but Rossi said that once again, support from the national was critically important.
We've had outstanding support from the national, and they back up their words of support with deeds," said Rossi. "From National President David Holway through our attorney, Gary Gentile, and our national representative, Ralph Ezovski, and everyone else, they're there for us when we need help."
When he's not busy doing police work or working on the local's business, Rossi can be found at home with his wife Christine, daughter Casondra, and his Great Dane, Brandy ("125 pounds of lap dog," he calls her), whom he takes for a vigorous walk in the woods near his home every day. He's also a member of the state's Police Officers Board of Relief, providing financial assistance to the families of deceased officers. He tries to fit in the occasional night out with friends and a little regular reading on what the opposition is doing.
"I try to read the Wall Street Journal every day to keep up on financial matters as they relate to my duties as the chairman of the police and fire pension fund," said Rossi. "And I keep up with a publication that would like to return to the days before the Wagner Act, a 1935 federal law that strengthened labor unions and limited what employers can do against us. I think it's a good idea to keep up on what your enemies are up to."
After 23 years seeing how his local union has helped members, Rossi can't imagine working in a non-unionized department.
"Unions keep police departments above reproach. A police officer with a strong union isn't afraid of termination or some other form of reprisal if he or she has to arrest the mayor's son or daughter for violating the law," said Rossi, who is grateful for his experiences with the IBPO.
"Being the union president is sometimes a thankless job, but the experience that I have acquired in the service to others has been second to none. Being involved in the IBPO has been a great experience."