TPOAM Services
Members Lifeline
Our members have access to LIFELINE, a 24-hour professional counseling service for Public Employees and their families. LIFELINE also handles calls from members when they are involved in an activity where they feel their rights should be protected by a union representative or TPOAM attorney. This protection is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This service is provided for all members at no extra cost and all counseling issues are 100 percent confidential.
The LIFELINE phone number is (313) 937-5105.
Civil/Criminal Protection Plan
TPOAM has the most comprehensive criminal/civil protection plan available. This optional and innovative program will provide you with an experienced full-time TPOAM attorney and cover all of the attorney expenses arising from any criminal charge, whether on duty or off, work-related or not. In addition, if you are sued civilly, as a result of actions taken in the performance of your duties, TPOAM will provide “of counsel” legal assistance to make sure your employer represents and defends you properly.
No other union offers such a comprehensive plan, and the details are available upon request. Go to our TPOAM Legal Information to review frequently asked questions and answers about the program.
Research
Since its inception, the TPOAM has been committed to providing professional, in-house research services. Its research department has demonstrated that accurate data for negotiations often win significant contracts. Even when contracts must go to mediation or fact-finding, careful analysis, and compelling evidence are major factors contributing to settlements.
Staffed by two experienced professionals, the TPOAM’s research team responds each week to a variety of requests for information. Business agents working with local bargaining committees need to know what wages and benefits are available to other departments in the area.
When pensions are being negotiated, actuarial costs for new benefits are decisive in gaining improvements. Health care issues, Social Security questions, work-practice surveys, and cost-of-living analyses are only a few of the areas addressed by Research Analysts Kevin Loftis and Al Brzys.
Kevin Loftis
Kevin Loftis is well known to members through his positions as POAM Executive Board member and Business Agent. He is also a 25 year veteran of the Oak Park Public Safety Department where he served as its local union president.
Kevin has the practical wisdom to assist any local association in comprehensive preparation for negotiations, mediation, or compulsory arbitration. Additionally, he has personally participated in every facet of the police labor industry and his extensive credentials qualify him as an expert witness.
Al Brzys
Al Brzys took advantage of a great opportunity to put his computer talents and extensive pension board experience to work after retiring from the Dearborn Police Department after 25 years as a Police Officer. Al served 23 of those years on the Local Union’s Executive Board, 5 years as President. He also was elected for 20 consecutive years to the Dearborn Police and Fire Pension Board as a Trustee.
Al now works with colleague Kevin Loftis handling all POAM/TPOAM computer analyses of wages, benefits, and work practices for the organization. He combines the best of real-world experience in economics theory and public service to assist the organization and its local bargaining units.
