MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBER SERVICES | SIGN IN SIGN OUT | MY PROFILE PAGE | MY ACCOUNT

Home > News > Article

Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email      Comment Comment      RSS RSS     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark

Pancakes raise dough for police

Ross Ford, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, works on a batch of pancakes for a breakfast held Saturday at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian to raise money for three police officers laid off because of the city's budget crunch. DARYL WILSON / Tulsa World

 
By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/8/2009  2:28 AM
Last Modified: 11/10/2009  11:21 PM


Correction
This story originally misspelled the last name of a laid-off Tulsa police officer. The officer's name is Mitchell Helberg. The story has been corrected.


Saturday was an emotional day for Jared Grafton.

At night, he was to be married to Tiffany Welch in Catoosa.

However, in the morning nearly 800 people came to Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian to stand up for him — and two of his colleagues — for a different reason.

The Tulsa church was the scene of a pancake breakfast held as a fundraiser for Grafton, Brad Blackwell and Mitchell Helberg — the three officers who were recently laid off from the Tulsa Police Department because of the city's financial woes.

"It's really great to see people showing up like this," Helberg said. "It's nice to know there are this many people who care."

FOP Auxiliary Vice President Erin Barnes said that close to $7,000 was raised at the event meant to help the three officers pay their bills. She said many who attended contributed more than the $5 admission fee.

The event was originally scheduled after the city of Tulsa laid off 21 officers in late October because of budget cutbacks. However, 18 of them were rehired last week using federal stimulus grant funds.

While city officials and the police union try to find the funds to rehire the remaining three, fundraising efforts such as the one held Saturday morning are under way to help

them financially.

As it turned out, Saturday morning's event was slated on the same day that Grafton was scheduled to marry Welch. The events were sufficiently far apart in the day for both to go on as scheduled.

As packed as the Kirk of the Hills parking lot was on Saturday morning, one would have thought that a wedding was going on inside.

"I really didn't expect this many people," Welch said as she sat at a table full of family members who were preparing for a wedding when a pancake breakfast broke out.

Blackwell said the level of support from the community "has been unbelievable since Day One."

He said he continues to get phone calls on a daily basis from people encouraging him to stay positive.

"At a time like this it means a lot," he said. "Sooner or later, it will work out."

The Fraternal Order of Police has announced it has established the "FOP Save the City Fund" and hopes to collect at least $100,000 that would be given to the city so it could rehire the three officers.

After the layoffs were announced, the officers were notified that the Tulsa Public Schools Police Department had grant money that could be used to hire officers for 22 weeks but without the sort of medical benefits that they have enjoyed at TPD.

Also, the city announced it had two open positions as airport officers.

Blackwell and Helberg said they are still weighing their options. However, Grafton said he will start with Tulsa Public Schools on Tuesday — his honeymoon will have to wait — even though he said he knows that it is not a long-term solution.

All expressed hope that something will be worked out which would allow them to rejoin the force they joined in January.

Though a lot of people who showed up on Saturday had some tie to law enforcement, others just wanted to show their support for those who serve and protect.

Grafton said he found that impressive because "as police officers we usually don't come across people on their best day."

Besides the lodge as well as various individuals and church members, Barnes said others who contributed to Saturday's event included Arby's, Hiland Dairy, Krispy Kreme and Reasor's.




Donations

People who want to donate may send money to the FOP lodge. Checks should be made to:

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93

P.O. Box 2473
Tulsa, OK 74101


David Harper 581-8359
david.harper@tulsaworld.com
By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer

Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email      Comment Comment      RSS RSS     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark

Reader Comments
       Add your comment

54 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Report Comment Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you.  -- Web Editor Jason Collington
 
 
Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Pancake breakfast to support officers draws crowd," which was published on 11/7/2009.

Report Comment
QLC, (11/8/2009 7:25:42 AM)
It appears from the comments that the negatives are against the union, and the positives are for the officers. We all want to support the police and we all ultimately want them on the force and protecting the public.

But nobody likes to be played. And right now, the city is playing the union, the union is playing the officers, and we all lose in the end.

There are many red herrings involved, parking cars at home, drug tests, smoking in cars, whatever the topic of the day. The police have always been treated as 'special' employees and that is always going to rub people the wrong way.

To the 'so called family' of officers, the union is killing you. It is ok if you want to turn your life over to a machine, but don't get your feelings hurt when the public revolts against the most visible object. You.

If you think things are bad now, wait until you get a new mayor. I would be trying to settle now!
Report Comment
QLC, (11/8/2009 8:12:12 AM)
FS, you are comparing a tulsa police officer to a corporate executive? Now that is a new slant.

Even comparing them to the executive offices of the mayor is a pretty good laugh.

I don't remember any executive requiring the strong arm protection of a union.
Report Comment
QLC, (11/8/2009 8:19:28 AM)
FS, I am for people being in charge of their own destiny. If they don't like their jobs, then get another one. Anyone that doesn't know that cops and school teacher are underpaid when they go into that line of work does not deserve to complain about it later.

I am not necessarily against unions, I am against the fact that someone believes they need one. Or hiding behind one.

And I am against people like you making stuff up and acting like it is fact.
Report Comment
livinintheburbs, (11/8/2009 1:01:08 PM)
3 members of your family have been laid off..Take care of them...Maybe they can hve the jobs of the officers who are going to be indicted...Or they could have the job of the officer who got busted with drugs...Or the one who is in trouble for the wierd loans...Protect and Serve...And get off the phone 2 people in front of me and you just ran a red light.
Report Comment
Mar, Tulsa (11/7/2009 7:59:34 PM)
Well I'm unemployed, not receiving unemployment, anyone going to have a pancake feed for me? :-)

Yes. they were offered other jobs, plus I figure the union would help them. I don't think the 3 police officers would have any trouble finding a position with other surrounding towns or other towns in Oklahoma or other states.

Though I didn't agree with the 21 police officers being let go, especially with the high crime rate we are experiencing. Lot of good the stimulus money did for us, let go 21 and hire back 18 with the stimulus money. Talk about spinning the wheels.

They do need to discontinue allowing police officers taking police cars to their homes out of the city limits. Regardless whether it is in their contract or not.

I bet next year when the contract is about to expire and they have to re-negotiate a new contract, the mayor and city councilors will not be so willing to work with the FOP and will push for no Tulsa police cars going out of the city limits. FOP seems to want it all their way, not willing to work out a fair agreement for the benefit of the citizens of Tulsa.
Report Comment
calloy, T-town (11/7/2009 6:43:58 PM)
was st. alphonzo there?
Report Comment
FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/8/2009 3:51:26 AM)
I had mentioned earlier in another thread, $100.00 times 850 officer would give these officers $47,000 for the year. So why the theatrics? Why a public display? Why not every police officer just go to the bank and donate $100.00 and get it done without all the politics?
Report Comment
okierose, Tulsa County (11/7/2009 10:02:28 PM)
Whirled Peas, (11/7/2009 3:41:09 PM)
Didnt the laid-off officers turn down other police positions the city offered them at the airport and TPS?

None of those positions offered any benefits. Plus they didn't work long enough to qualify for unemployment.
Report Comment
FS, Broken Arrow (11/8/2009 8:01:11 AM)
Tulsa's Rose:

The Tulsa police have an employment contract, much the same as all corporate executives do.

The language re: the drive-home vehicles was agreed to during the LaFortune era by the FOP membership in lieu of a pay raise. I'm sure that the FOP would be open to a trade for an item of equivalent value if approached by the city, which the city has generously priced at $1.1 million.

Kathy Taylor and minions seem bent on playing to the citizens, telling you what a bunch of bad boys the cops are for not willingly giving up their compensation when nothing of the sort is taking place in City Hall.

Tulsa's city-executive positions also are governed by employment contracts and I can guarantee none of those people are willing to open their contracts for the good of the city.

Why should the police?
Report Comment
FS, Broken Arrow (11/8/2009 8:09:27 AM)
QLC:

While you obviously don't care for a union which gives workers a voice, do you support the defacto unions of the executive types - the Trade Associations, Professional Associations, and their ilk?

Are you for or against employment contracts, worker or executive?

Both represent people (but on opposing ends of the workplace spectrum), and both have the same stated goals.
Report Comment
FS, Broken Arrow (11/8/2009 8:20:29 AM)
Your deflection gave me a good laugh. On the chance you couldn;t tell, I was speaking of employment contracts.

Now - answer the question. Why should one group be better than the other when speaking of contract law?
Report Comment
FS, Broken Arrow (11/8/2009 8:26:20 AM)
BTW, mR. QLC, while you're answering the stated question, kindly tell me what I made up.
Report Comment
FS, Broken Arrow (11/9/2009 9:55:13 AM)
axeman:

The real issue is beginning to appear as getting the FOP to cede an employment contract item without a fight and having nothing to do with the goals stated by the city administration.

While I agree with the sentiment that cops should reside in their jurisdiction (ie, the "city" proper), the fact the numbers re: cost being inflated by the city admin only shows the city's lack of honesty in their employee dealings as does their willing to "convict" in the court of public opinion - they are obviously taking lessons from American Airlines management on this one.

The cops' employment contract will be opened for modification eventually which is the only proper time to address this issue.

If the city administation would instead address the million$ of waste in its own arena (such as how many highly paid assistants does the mayor really need) some might be more willing to listen to the admin and their "woes", but I don't see that happening.

Governing by a "Do as I say, not as I do" approach just doesn't work.
Report Comment
Ron Ballew, Lawton (11/7/2009 5:24:50 PM)
Laid off cops and citizens are supposed to live off of unemployment insurance, not charity. And they may be eligible for food stamps.
Report Comment
Ron Ballew, Lawton (11/8/2009 6:15:36 AM)
It seems to me that if the laid off cops went to a six month police academy they should have worked for the city long enough to qualify for unemployment insurance.
Report Comment
Moses, Jenks (11/7/2009 6:30:31 PM)
People stepping up to help people in need is always a good thing.
That's what America is about, helping each other.
Report Comment
aint missbehavin, .. (11/7/2009 9:49:28 PM)
I blame President Bush for this.Dont ya?If he had just said he was a tree insted of a Bush we might have enough maple syrup right now and we might have had more hungry people who wanted some flap jacks insted of pannycakes.By George.Im mad......was there any meat served?
Report Comment
aint missbehavin, .. (11/8/2009 1:11:42 AM)
Tulsa citizen 24,cool it now,dont get so heated up by gosh think of all that fat that was consumed at this get together,yikes if ya go to college,Im thinkin this probably aint your dream job.Not when I can go out here and get cleet certified and be your partner,were all depressed here in Oklahoma,oh yeah in a depression,everyone has been gettin laid off or their hours cut....its nice of the folks to think of these officers,its called a community.Hope they find work soon.Its sad when folks have families at home and tryin to make it.
Report Comment
Bozipher, Stillwater (11/7/2009 7:08:05 PM)
Good on the church and the folks that donated.
Report Comment
2nTulsa, Tulsa (11/7/2009 6:57:14 PM)
Pancakes sounds really good right now. Too lazy to make them, though.
Sigh.
Report Comment
Tulsa's Rose, somewhere in the boondocks (11/7/2009 5:39:35 PM)
Didn't they lay off these officers, because the other officers were given the chance to drive to work themselves and leave the police vehicles at the station or have these 21 officers laid off? If i am correct in my thinking and it was because these people didn't want to drive themselves to work, then i think Tulsa is needing to reevaluate things. The officers should not have even been given the option. It should have been made mandatory that the vehicles remain at the station, and therefore none of the employee's would have been laid off. I feel awful for the 3 remaining officers that have no job because others were not willing to sacrifice their vehicles.
Report Comment
Whoknew?, Tulsa (11/7/2009 11:03:56 PM)
I went to college and trained for my job me off. It happens.
Report Comment
Whoknew?, Tulsa (11/7/2009 11:13:10 PM)
Rewind...I went to college and trained for my job and they laid me off. It happens.
Report Comment
Thunder196, Tulsa (11/7/2009 9:33:10 PM)
"Are we not placed on this earth to help each other?"
.
You mean like giving up driving your squad car home? So there will be more money and possibly hire back the three laid off? Apparently the answer to your question is "no".
Report Comment
tulsacitizen24, Broken Arrow (11/7/2009 10:28:31 PM)
Those of you who are being so negative, you only wish you were a part of a family that is so close. This is how we live; we support our family, because at times, that is all that we have. It is a brotherhood that you couldn't possibly understand. We don't expect you to understand, it is something that is rarely found in this society. Many of you are commenting based on rumors and lies. You don't even know the truth of most of this, yet you comment as though you do. Most of you think you could do it better, so prove it. Get off your high horses and selflessly serve our city with half the grace these men and women do. These officers went through a lengthy application process, a grueling six-month academy and then months of field training to finally have their dream job. They aren’t out there every day and night because they make great money, or because they come in contact with so many wonderful people. They deal with the worst of the worst criminals, and they put their lives on the line on a daily basis.

They are not being inactive in their efforts to find other jobs. Make no mistake, they will do anything they can to support their families, but we will be there to help support them in anyway that we can along the way. Also, there were MANY people who contributed to today’s success. It wasn’t any one party. People donated money, food, service, facilities, and I’d like to thank every single one for what they did today. Days like today show many of us why we are so proud to be a part of this family. It’s not always an easy life, but the pride we feel toward those who serve this city, completely outweighs the sacrifices they, and their families may make in order for them to do so. Remember, you may speak harsh words towards them now; but one day, you WILL need them. You will expect them to come racing to your rescue, and have a good attitude. No doubt you will not always show them your best, but they will be there for you. They will come running; they will answer your calls for help. They will do all of this because this is the job they’ve been called to do.

Never let them walk alone.
25 of 54 comments displayed. | View All

 

 
Add Your Comment 
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.

 
  
Post Your Comment
 


Most Popular Stories
Comments made yesterday 1,932
Total Comments 896,484
Register to make reader comments

Most Popular Stories




Tulsa World

Home | About Tulsa World | Advertise With Us | Privacy | Usage Agreement | FAQ and Help | Contact Us | Today's Headlines
Copyright © 2009, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.




Advanced Search