The Police Association of New Orleans, or PANO, was the first police union in the history of the Deep South. It was formed at a meeting in the Police and Fireman's Holy Name Society Hall at Our Lady of Guadeloupe Church in New Orleans on July 28, 1969. The Fourteen Original members at tat historic meeting were: Irvin L. Magri, Jr., August A. Palumbo, Vincent J. Bruno, Joseph Gallodoro, Lester Carr, Curt Lechler, Louis Munsch, Justin "Skeeter" Favaloro, Tommy Leggett, Addison R. Thompson, Louis Jefferies, Xavier Viola, Jules Crovetto, and Lynn Schneider. PANO's leadership began with Irvin L. Magri, Jr. who was elected President. The results of that ground-breaking meeting would soon rock the very core of municipal government in city after city in the south, eventually touching big labor, the New Orleans Waterfront, the Teamsters Union, chiefs of police throughout the nation, and even a man who would serve in President Carter's administration as a cabinet member, Mayor Moon Landrieu.
Although the Firefighter's Union was formed in 1939, to took thirty more years for the New Orleans police officers to organize. Once the police union had begun, however, it grew rapidly. PANO's membership increased from the original fourteen members at that historic first meeting in 1969 to approximately 750 members less than four months later.
PANO was founded out of frustration due to poor working conditions, substandard pay, low morale, and lack of attention to the backbone of the New Orleans Police Department, the patrolmen and sergeants. The founder and new president, Irvin L. Magri, Jr. argued for items such as better base salary, additional state supplemental pay, better equipment for street personnel including first aid kits for police cars, shotguns on the dash with high-powered rifles available should the situation dictate, shift differential pay, creating the rank of Training Officer and/or Senior Patrolman (now incorporated as Police Officers I, II, III, IV), changes in the State Civil Service Law to allow Police and Fire representation on the New Orleans Civil Service commission, better facilities at the District Stations (many of the District Stations at the time were condemned), increased uniform allowance, the ending of mandatory compensatory overtime, increasing the pay detail rated, better and more effective ammunition, etc.
At the time of PANO's birth, the salary of a New Orleans Police Patrolman was $530 per month with state supplemental pay of $16, $33, and $50, depending upon longevity. Only after five years of active service with the New Orleans Police Department was an officer allowed to receive the maximum state supplemental pay of $50. PANO requested a raise in the base salary from $530 per month to $900 per month in order to bring it up to the standards of most southern cities.
On November 7, 1969, and coinciding with the General Election, the Police Association of New Orleans organized its first "sick-out." Over six hundred (600) commissioned police officers participated in a "Blue Flu" and the New Orleans Fire Fighters Association joined the battle by organizing a "Red Flu." During this time, members of the Internal Affairs Division of the New Orleans Police Department and the Department's official surgeon forced their way into policemen's homes in the "wee hours of the morning" and while police wives protested, the "sick" cops were ordered by their superiors to submit to medical examinations right then in their own bedrooms. It should be noted that the New Orleans Fire Fighter's Association reneged on their portion of the "Blue Flu / Red Flu" action after the superintendent of the New Orleans Fire Department fired the first sixty-eight (68) firemen as they called in sick. The Fire Fighters Union, a member then of the AFL-CIO and headed by the President, the late Joseph Sanchez, "threw in the towel", but the Police Union "stuck to its guns" and refused to quit!
The Superintendent of Police at the time of the birth of PANO was Joseph Ignacious Giarrusso, the long time Chief of Police, who was considered somewhat of a dictator and who had a hatred of police unions. Giarrusso went to the District Attorney, Jim Garrison, and demanded that Garrison charge President Magri with conspiracy to commit malfeasance in office. District Attorney Garrison refused and basically laughed the iron-fisted Giarrusso out of his office. Shortly after the "Blue Flu", a large group of wives stormed the office of the Mayor Victor H. Schiro. The Mayor overruled the Superintendent of Police and granted amnesty to all the "sick" police officers except Magri and Curt O. Lechler.
PANO continued to grow and prosper after the "Blue Flu" of 1969 in spite of relentless harassment of the Police Union. Joseph I. Giarrusso, in one of this last acts of vengeance, transferred six Executive Board Members to walking beats at night on crime-ridden Dryades Street without police radios. At the time, on of the highest crime rate areas in the Crescent City was Dryades Street, notorious as a haven for narcotics pushers, armed robbers, and other dangerous criminals. Giarrusso sought to break the back of the Police Union leadership and to take these men out of the areas where they were elected to represent their peers. PANO struck back quickly. In a tactical ploy against a very anti-police union administration, Magri requested that all available off-duty officers report on a volunteer basis to Dryades Street and walk with their brother officers who had been transferred there. The once crime-ridden decayed avenue known as the "crime alley" of New Orleans would now savor basically then police headquarters. Junkies, burglars, and stick-up artists fled the area in droves as two hundred ticket-writing zealous centurions patrolled in force. This unexpected maneuver by Magri and PANO caught the top brass of the city, including the Mayor and the Chief of Police, completely off guard. Within three weeks of the experiment, the Superintendent of Police canceled the walking beat. A tremendous victory was won when the first collective bargaining contract in the history of the south was signed on September 13, 1973. PANO prospered in spite of the obstacles and undertook a leadership role in organizing other police unions throughout the south.
On August 15, 1970, Police Superintendent Joseph I. Giarrusso retired from the New Orleans Police Department., and Clarence Giarrusso, the older brother of Joseph was the newly appointed Superintendent. Vincent Bruno took over the leadership of PANO after Irvin Magri was illegally fired on April 25, 1975 for criticism of the administration. (Magri eventually won his lawsuit on May 18, 1981 and was reinstated retroactively to the rand of Police Sergeant with all back pay.) Bruno headed PANO until 1980 when Ron Cannatella was elected President.
Mardi Gras 1979, PANO made history with the first "Police Strike", led by Vincent Bruno and the local Teamsters Union. Over one thousand police officers were on strike for 16 days, canceling Mardi Gras for the first time since World War II. Poor communications and representation by the Teamsters Local resulted in cops ending their strike with literally nothing accomplished except unity and restored benefits. After the strike, at a General Membership meeting in early 1980, Vincent Bruno proposed reaffiliating with the AFL-CIO, but the membership called for his resignation. Bruno and his executive board resigned, and an interim board of trustees took over that night. Ron Cannatella, Dan Henderson, James Broussard, Carol Weigand, and John Johnston took over the task of putting PANO back on track. PANO was no longer a Teamsters affiliate, but an independent police organization.
On May 15, 1980, the Police Association of New Orleans elected Ron Cannatella as President. Also elected were Dan Henderson, 1st Vice President; John Marie, 2nd Vice President; Elizabeth Joseph, Treasurer; Cindy Duke, Recording Secretary; Robert Davis, Sergeant-at-Arms. Within 30 days, the newly elected Board would fight a lawsuit filed by the past board claiming they were illegally seated. The court dismissed the suit by stating that the action was fair and the wishes of the membership. In August 1980, the updated constitution and bylaws were ratified. Ron Cannatella and his newly elected Board were committed to rebuilding PANO and restoring professionalism and integrity lost during the strike. The priority of the new PANO was representing the legitimate interest and rights of all police officers, no matter what race, creed, or color. The momentum continued to grow! A district/division representative board was instituted. PANO had its first radio show, hosted by then Vice President John Marie. The PANO paper, The Star and Crescent, was brought back to life. Cannatella and his Executive Board immediately met with Mayor Dutch Morial in an attempt to open communications with the new PANO and enter a bargaining agreement.
Legal representation increased, with then Attorneys Sidney Bach and Jerry Wasserman. PANO began aggressively testing the legal system for remedies not resolved by the Civil Service system. Those tenacious court battles reversed numerous issues that the City Administration had forced on its police and continues to still do so. The first major win was the sick leave lawsuit. Because of PANO's intervention, officers would no longer have to have in excess of 100 days to receive compensation when retiring. Under the reins of Superintendent James Parsons and PANO's persistence, the Police Officer II, III, and IV became a reality.
Ron Cannatella and his Executive Board, was able to change public perception of PANO as positive influence in government. He gained the respect of not only the City Council and some Administrators, but he became well respected throughout the state government arena. Cannatella opened positive communications with the news media and the citizens themselves.
in 1980, the Annual PANO Christmas Dance was revitalized. Awards were given in honor of Peter Bergeron, the first PANO member killed in the line of duty. Officer Bergeron's badge still symbolizes all police officers who risk their lives and is honored in our Association's logo - Badge # 1544.
However, tragedy rocked the New Orleans Police Department with the cold blood killing of Officer Gregory Neupert in late 1980. This senseless killing turned into the landmark case of the Algiers 7. PANO began and aggressive fund-raising effort for the legal defense of seven New Orleans Police Officers who were to stand trial in Dallas, Texas, and Board members in New Orleans coordinated witnesses, flying them in and out daily to testify for the best defense possible. To everyone's disbelief, this month-long trial resulted in three Officers convicted of Civil Rights violation serving five years in the federal penitentiary.
Mardi Gras 1981, was the start of the first PANO Mardi Gras Canteen. After years of standing on parade routes, sometimes cold, but always fatigued, it was voted by the Executive Board to provide a service on wheels to bring refreshments to officers waiting hours on the route before the crowds and parades came. Cannatella then took our fight to the citizens. It was because Cannatella's belief that "When a man/woman puts on a police uniform, it does not negate his God-given and Constitutionally guaranteed human rights." He personally began a campaign to challenge the Hatch Act, which forbids any City employees to support any political candidates. In 1982, PANO began its campaign by forming its affiliate "COPS", the Committee on Political Solutions. PANO's goal started with public awareness of the problems within the police department by way of leaflets, news ads, and advertisements.
In May 1982, a PANO Executive Board election was held. Cannatella had an overwhelming victory. John Marie and Cindy Duke were reelected. David Benelli was elected Second Vice President, with Carol Weigand as Treasurer; Norman Taylor as Sergeant-at-Arms, with Norman McCord, Stanley Burkhardt, and Lisa Dazzo as Trustees.
The Star and Crescent newspaper was replaced by the Force magazine, a high-quality well-respected publication distributed throughout the city. Ironically, in 1982, the first President's Message, Cannatella spoke of the end of the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration grant, which afforded law enforcement officers to continue their college education. Cannatella stressed then the importance of educated and professional officers and the fact that the citizens should demand nothing less.
On May 14, 1982, the PANO Simulation Training Award was given in Recruit Class #81, with its first recipient - Recruit Harold Rich. PANO was especially proud of the award as 1st Vice President David Benelli was the driving force behind the entire simulation training program at the Police Academy. In 1983, the PANO office was relocated from a downtown office building to the centrally located building in the Park Esplanade. This centrally located office vastly improved accessibility to PANO's growing membership. Vice President David Benelli chaired the first PANO bullet proof vest program in 1983. "Give a Cop a Ticket" to a safer life program was responsible for providing police officers with over one thousand bullet proof vests.
With the change in attitude towards law enforcement and national scrutiny, particularly after the Dallas trial, police officers began uniting to fight for police rights at a national level. On January 1, 1984, PANO affiliated with the National Association of Police Organization (NAPO), an independent association representing just about every major Police Organization in the Nation. Being the first southern city to affiliate with NAPO, Cannatella was elected to the National Board as an area Vice President.
PANO's vastly improved legal representation of its members by retaining the services of Frank DeSalvo and Associates, a widely respected legal firm throughout the city and state.
July of 1984, Cannatella established the first Board of Directors through a department wide election. Members who served for that year were: Elmon Randolph, Kathy Brown, Alex Gerhold, Lionel Keating, Addie Fanguy, Fenner Sedgebeer, Pat Peyton, Darlene Kuhn, Robert Canedo, John Rice, Joan Kalnit, Milton Bradford, Joyce Dunne, Joseph Hebert, Sidney Biggs, John Johnston, and Arthur Perrot. In September of 1984, PANO supported the proposed Civil Service Pay Plan to alleviate the pay disparity between P/O I, II, III, IV and Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains. However, this plan never passed due to the old familiar sound of the City Council, "for lack of funds."
PANO continued to grow more powerful. On November 15, 1984, PANO's First Associate Membership program was underway. Insisting on the importance of community involvement, PANO's Associate membership has steadily grown over the years to its current strength of over 15,000 members. After working for PANO on the Force since 1982, Rhonda McCord took the reins as the Force editor. Joanne Bergeron, widow of Pete Bergeron, became Cannatella's Executive Assistant.
1984 also saw the completion of the first NOPD Commemorative Album published by PANO since 1900.
In the summer of 1985, PANO finally witnessed then Governor Edwin Edwards sign into law the Police Officers Bill of Rights. Forces from across the state led by Cannatella and Bill Fields, President of the Louisiana Union of Police, fought a five-year battle to guarantee police officers basic constitutional rights while under investigation. 1985 once again brought tragedy. Three Fifth District officers stood trial for negligent homicide. PANO once again stood behind the officers, both financially and morally, packing the courtroom for the week long trial, with the best representation at no cost to them. The officers were accused of negligent homicide while subduing a violent prisoner who in their custody assaulted and injured the officers. The prisoner was determined to have ingested a large amount of cocaine and other drugs died in custody. "Toxic Cocaine Syndrome" was ruled the cause of death and the officers acquitted after a brilliant trial by PANO attorney Frank DeSalvo.
The yearly fight of state pay became a reality in 1986, the first real threat of Police Supplemental Pay became a heated issue in Baton Rouge. PANO and Police Organizations from across the state demonstrated on the steps of the State's Capitol. PANO's presence and lobbying efforts once again paid off. Supplemental Pay was safe for another year. On March 12, 1986, at a PANO General Membership meeting, PANO's membership was opened to Reserve Officers by a unanimous vote.
In April of 1986, under the Dutch Morial Administration, the police department took another step backwards by embracing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA). A 40-hour work week was eliminated and NOPD officers were now required to work a 28 day, 171-hour work cycle before earning overtime. Cannatella held countless meetings with the City Administration, Superintendent, and Civil Service Commission and the national labor board to no avail. FLSA became a reality. Legal action is still pending by the Association regarding its unfair implementation.
Sidney Barthelemy was elected Mayor in January 1986 with PANO's support, and a promise to recognize Police Officer's through Collective Bargaining.
On June 1, 1986, a new Executive Board took Office. Ron Cannatella continued as President, being unopposed; reelected was John Marie, First-Vice President; David Benelli, Second-Vice President; Cindy Burkhart, Recording Secretary; and Carol Weigand, Treasurer. New Board members were Willie Davis, Sergeant-at Arms; and Glenn Miller, Trustee.
On October 2, 1986, the first time in history, police and fire, staged a standing room only unified demonstration at the City Council to oppose a Civil Service rule change which enabled the City to cut the benefits and work hours of its employees. After this unified stand, the City chose to pass a 20% cut in work for all City employees. Police Officers were cut to a 32-hour work week for eight week starting in October 1986-Merry Christmas!! This act was immediately challenged in the courts and reversed.
1987 greeted police with a 13.7% cut in state pay, with an upcoming vote to cut an additional 20% in May of 1987. Needless to say, with the 1986 four-day work week and the cut in state pay, job action was in the air. However, during all of the controversy and cuts, Cannatella through investigation found an extra $100,000 in mileage that year, which created a supplemental mileage check.
With all the cuts, PANO began looking closely at several major problems within the department including police pay and benefits. This led to the discovery that under FLSA, police salaries were based on 171 hours in 28 days. However, the total police hours were 160. After meeting with then Superintendent Warren Woodfork, Cannatella was able to present the facts, and hours were increased to meet the 171 hours.
The financial rollercoaster continued! In a March meeting in 1987, a case started years before by the deceased Officer Donald Allman , was finally coming to a close by his law firm. Attorney Brad Roberts announced to its members that the long awaited Supplemental/Overtime pay case had been victorious at the District Court level and upheld by the State Supreme Court. Police Officers overtime pay was not being calculated to included State Supplemental Pay.
Shortly after that, in 1987, the City of New Orleans entered into a Consent Decree in response to a discrimination suit filed by Larry Williams, et al. Although PANO was not directly involved, PANO attorneys obtained limited intervention to assure that both black and white, male and female officers were protected. This consent decree truly affected the promotional system that we are still abiding by presently. Since the inception of this decree, and PANO's intervention, more officers have been promoted now, than in the years past. The courts now demand that the police department keep current promotional registers and promote with vacancies, with no quota.
The PANO Executive Board continued to meet with then Mayor Sidney Barthelemy to open negotiations for a contract... And we waited.
In mid-1987, a substantial pay raise was included in the Civil Service Commission Pay Plan. PANO had a total media blitz ... bumper stickers, t-shirts, leaflets, phone calls, television and radio blitz, with the slogan `Pay Police Like Your Life Depends on It'. Citizens were called to wear a blue ribbon in support of police, with an overwhelming response. However, in late 1987, the City Council agreed with the plan, but once again, the funds were not there.
By 1988, through total disgust, officers were screaming to be recognized. After countless meetings, it was decided to boycott the Annual Inspection, but attend the Annual Inspection Memorial Mass in respect for brother officers killed in the line of duty. On May 1, 1988, over 500 officers stood in full uniform, "shoulder to shoulder on the steps of the Washington Artillery Park in protest of the Administration. The slogan being then "If you don't respect us, you can't inspect us".
By the summer of 1988, numerous informational pickets were staged at City Hall in attempt to force the hand of Mayor Barthelemy to collectively bargain and recognize police. In June, PANO's Executive Board and members picketed the National Mayor's Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, where ironically, past Mayor "Dutch" Morial participated in the picket against Mayor Barthelemy. Sidney Barthelemy was a no show. The end result was a 48-hour "sick out", that crippled the department, calling in state police and national guard. PANO, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Black Organization of Police (BOP), began meeting to show the Administration that police were together, that it was not a black/white problem, but a "BLUE" issue!! Much to our dismay, Mayor Barthelemy never recognized the police in a bargaining contract. But because of PANO and only because of PANO, members united, it was clear to the Administration that police would not stand for any more cuts!!!
Finally, in 1989, the Overtime Case was finalized with calculations now at task! Ron Cannatella, Cindy Scanlan, Rhonda McCord, Fenner Sedgebeer and Peggy White were ready to face the challenge. After little was accomplished by the court appointed accounting firm of Kirk Paciera, who spent an entire year auditing and calculating each class members amount of overtime hours from 1976 through 1983, Judge Tom Early ordered the city to allow PANO to finalize those calculations.
Ron Cannatella leading the PANO team were successful in locating an additional $4 million for Police Officers. The $6.2 million dollar case had now grown to $10.2 million dollars thanks to PANO! The next step - finding the money! In 1992, through a bond issue, the money was there. PANO finally saw a major case end, issuing checks totaling anywhere from $100 to $30,000 to it members and nonmembers.
As PANO entered into the 1990's the battles to represent the legitimate interest for all police officers continues with unprecedented aggressiveness. In May of 1994 Marc Morial, the son of the late Ernest "Dutch" Morial was elected new Mayor for the city of New Orleans. Marc, as did his father and Sidney Barthelemy continues to refuse collective bargaining rights to police officers while granting them to firefighters. The battle continues!
In 1994 the Police Association of New Orleans celebrated its 25th year anniversary, of continuous service to the men and women of the New Orleans Police Department. The event was celebrated by the 1994 Executive Board presenting the Founding Fathers and the past Executive Board with a plaque commemorating the momentous occasion.
Whether on individual or class issues, the Police Association of New Orleans has faced every challenge. The amount of individual and class litigation victories recovered wages, promotions, reversed suspensions, legislation, and success stories continue to grow. The Police Association of New Orleans has truly lived up to its motto of "Representing New Orleans Finest". For the past twenty-five years, through the ups and downs, through the sad times and good, PANO has always been there ready to face the challenges. The Police Association of New Orleans will be the driving force that successfully takes the dedicated men and women of the New Orleans Police Department into the twenty-first century.