Jim Beall on Public Safety

For the past 12 years, Jim Beall has made public safety and the support of those
who put their lives on the line his number one budget priority. The Mayor and the
San Jose Police Officer's Association have opposed one another during Jim's entire
term in office. Jim has continually taken a leadership role by acting as a mediator

between the two. In both good and bad times and in opposition to the Mayor and
his peers, Jim has consistently supported public safety.

In 1980, as a candidate for the City Council, Jim actively supported the Binding
Arbitration Initiative on the ballot supported by the Police Officer's Association
(POA). The Mayor and Council at that time objected to it. Since its passing, the
Police Officer’s Association and the City have saved millions of dollars in legal
expenses. In addition, it has improved tihe morale of the Police Force.

In 1984, as Chair of the San Jose City Finance Committee, Jim played a key role
in developing a finance proposal for computerized fingerprint checking. This
device is widely used by the law enforcement agencies throughout the district.
Jim developed the proposals and made the motion for medical and dental benefits

for Police Officer Retirees, and increased pensions for their survivors. (See
addendum for complete list of new benefits.)

Since 1983,Jim has been tlie leading Councilmember advocating the hiring of 300
additional police officers. In 1988,Jim voted in favor of a six year plan that would
hire 270 additional police officers. Jim has strongly advocated and consistently
voted in favor of this every year. In 1992, despite 10 to 15% cut backs in other
departments,45 new officers were added to the budget.
In 1990, due to an increasing use of semi-automatic weapons by criminals, Jim
supported the use of9mm semi-automatic guns for the San Jose Police Officers.
In 1990,Jim led the council in establishing a Police Helicopter program for the
City.

With cutbacks in mental health programs, potentially violent individuals were
becoming more of a law enforcement problem. In 1990, Jim led efforts to increase
training of law enforcement personnel and established coordination with mental
health agencies.

In 1991, Jim worked on the Emergency Communication Center, a state of the art

unit which cost $30 million and is comparable to facilities in Los Angeles and

Phoenix. At the request of the Police Officers, Jim voted to support new locker
room facilities which included air conditioned locker rooms,showers, a sauna

room,a work out room and a Vehicle Maintenance Center.

In 1991, Jim supported allowing the Police Officers to form a committee to choose
their own vehicles for everyday use. The Police Officers chose the 1992 Caprice.
Jim supported their recommendation.

In 1991, Jim opposed the Police Citizen Public Review Board proposed by the
Santa Clara County Bar Association. He has consistently opposed personal
litigation against individual public employees acting in the line of duty.
Jim opposed the 1991 rip-off of Public Employees' Retirement System (P.E.R.S.)
to balance the state budget and opposed political involvement of the governor in
actuarial studies of the retirement system. Jim supports a fully funded,
independent system.

Jim supports Proposition 162 on the November ballot.

Jim supports the death penalty under special circumstances, including in the death
of a police officer. Jim personally knew and attended the funerals of three Police
Officers murdered in the line of duty. Jim has visited injured Police Officers in the
hospital as well.

Jim supports collective bargaining processes with labor and police organizations
and is opposed to hard-ball tactics used against such groups.

Jim served on the City's Federated Retirement Board for six years, managing $400
million in assets. Jim worked to benefit the members in the system. Jim believes

in a fully funded retirement system.

Jim opposes removing presumption regulations for public safety personnel
receiving worker's compensation benefits. Jim believes the real problem with
worker's compensation is the overhead in the system. Jim supports the injured
worker as opposed to the doctor, lawyer and insurance company.

>

INCREASES IN BENEFITS - P&F RETIREMENT
1982 - 1992

1.

Medical and dental benefits to new spouses and Central Fire
members.

2.

1991

Reduced Service Retirement Allowance for Members 50 Years

old and 25 Years of Service.
3.

Medical and Dental to Deferred Vested Member with 20
years of service credit.

4.

5.

7.

more

1992

Ad Hoc increase in pension to 751 of original purchasing
1992

100% Sick Leave Payout.

1992

Anti-poverty cost of living increase to bring retirees to at

least $650 per month.
8.

or

1992

Inclusion of Holiday Pay in final compensation.
power.

6.

1992

1990

Ad Hoc increase in pension of l% for each complete year
retired from date of retirement through July 1, 1985. 1986