Volume II , Issue 21
Gov. Pataki Slams Cell Door On Jail Privatization
For more thal seven yeats, the
President's
COBA Executive Board and I have
Message
fought vigorously against privetizaion
of any NeIN York City jail facility.
Private correction companies have
long been interested in getting their
hands on aly or all of the f~ilities in
the NeIN York City jail system.
lIVe know that once they got their
feet in the door these companies
would be able to make continual
progress because they would pay their
employees less than Correction
Officers aid expect much less from
Norman Seabrook them. This would be unacceptable to
COBA President COBA. Snce the day I took the oath of
COBA ENDORSES BEST CANDIDATE
FOR STATE COMPTROLLER
COB<; President Norman 8eabrook (second from right) and
members of the COB<; Executive Board and staff surrounded Former
Assembly Minority Lea:ler .bhn Faso as COBA endorsed him in
S3ptember in his cues for the office of Sale Comptroller. "He has
been a greet friend to NeINYork aty COrrection Officers in the NeIN
York 9.E.te Assembly:' Mr. ~abrook said, "and has supported many
pieces of signific.mt legislation for COrrection Officers and their
families."
September- October 2002
office as President of this union, I have fought against these companies
and their plans.
I an now proud to &fJ that the elected officials of the city and
stale of NeIN York have demonstrated that they are in complete agree-
ment tha the NeIN York City Correction Department is the best in the
world and cannot be replaced by any prtvae security orqenizaion.
On V\.ednes::tay, ~ptember 19,2002, the final nail was pounded
into the coffin of private jails in New York City when Governor George
E Pa~i signed into IaN ~nate Bill 67721Assembly Bill 6038. This IaN
amends ~tion 9-117 of the New York City Administrative code to
require thal the duty of maintaining the custody and supervision of
persons detaned or confined in any facility of the Nevv York City
Depa-tment of COrrection must be performed by members of the uni-
formed force.
Once again, we have won a significant victory on your behalf, aid
we're proud to tell you so.
FI LE CLAIMS FOR GROUND
ZERO MEDICAL CONDITIONS
As a result of a recent New York Sate SJpreme Court ruling, if
you file a notice of claim very soon, you may gill be able to protect
your right to sue New York City in connection with any medical con-
dition you may suffer arising out of work performed at or aound
Ground Zero, This is t rue even though the time for filing a notice of
claim, called a' pro se" notice, has technically passed.
COBA will assist you to protect your rightsthrough this or other
means and has G5ked its lav firm, Koehler & Isaacs, to assist anyone
affected by the events of S3ptember 11 to file such a claim. Many
Fire Aghters and Police Officers have filed such notices for potent ial
laNSUits aganst the city in connection with medical conditions aris-
ing out of work in or around Ground Zero.
Even though New York City COrrection Officers are covered by
Vlbrkers COmpensation, we suggest you contact Koehler & Isaacsto
discuss any health problems you are experiencing as a result of work-
ing a or near Ground Zero. The IaN firm can help you clarify your
rights under Vlbrkers Cornpensalon and advise you regarding aly
potential la-vsuit. The firm w ill assist you in filing a notice of claim
against the City where appropriete. arch a notice is designed to pro-
tect your rights but does not tie you in any way to a perticuta IaN
firm.
Do not delay.
Rye Playland Family Outing &
African-American Day Parade
photos inside
 WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE IN
AN AUTO ACCIDENT
NeN York City Correction Officers.
like rnos other Americans. Ere involved in
auto accidents at least once in their life-
time. The best. way to hcndle an alto
accident situation is to follow these
simple rules:
1. Keep cam aid ta<e time to protect your passenqers a1d ca. Gall
for an ambulance for any injured pattes, ~ flaes, if you carry
them. Do not leave the scene of the accident.
2. Do not d iscuss the accident with anyone or blame aiyone, in cl lid-
ing yourself. Excha1ge only license, registration, aid motor vehicle
identification card.
3. Provide only your name. address. license number, license plae
number, name of registered ow ner of the ca and the name of your
insuraice company. 910w your driver's license to the other paty,
4. Take down the name, address, operator's license number, dae of
birth, sex, state of license and phone number of the other driver.
5. Write down the other car owner's name, address end insurance
company. The d river may not be t he ow ner of th e car.
6. 8aek information from police for all injured parties, including pas-
sengers. Tace dow n the name, a::ldress, dae of birth, sex end extent
of injury to each person.
7. Be sureto writedown the names,addresses end phone numbers of
any people who saN the eccrcent but weren't involved in it.
Passengersin accidents a'e not witnesses.
8. Note the make, body type, year aid license plae number of the
other vehicle. Also make note of the damage to the other vehicle.
9. Note the dae and time of the accident. Write down the location
(street intersection or lendma-k).
10. Report the accident to your insuraice broker or agent immedi-
ately. If the eccident involves death or injury report it without
delay to the police department. Obtain a copy of their report
within 24 hours.
COBA members are encouraged to call Attorney Barry \/Vashor at
Koehler and Isaacs at 917-651-1300 for further advice on alto
accidents.
REMEMBER TO UPDATE YOUR
COBA RECORDS
by Joe Bracco, COBA Second Vice President
All COBA members must protect themselves end their fami-
lies by keeping their personal history inforrnalon updated by con-
ta:;ting the COBA office as soon as aly relevant change occurs.
COBA must be notified of eny changes in the following areas
as soon as possible:
"Your address
"Your telephone number
""Bi rth or afopti on of a chiId
"Removal of person from dependent status
·Change in marital status
*Change in beneficiaries
*Dependents attending college
COBA w ill provide you with forms to fill out regarding all of
the above chaiqes we will mail you a packet of such forms at your
request.
PLEA~ NOTE tha COBA does not share informaion with
the Department of Correction Personnel Division. which is locaed at
2 V'l.ashington S reel , or with NYCERq which is located in Brooklyn. It
is the responsibility of the individual officer to send ali relevant
chalges directly to COBA.to the Personnel Division. and to NYC~
Both th e ~rson nel Division and NYCERS will rend you t hei r ow n
forms for filing changes with them.
COBA GOLF CLASSIC A
MAJOR SUCCESS
All attendance and fundraising records were snashed August
26 at COM's Slventh Annual Golf Classic, held once again at Inwood
Country Club in Inwood. Nw York. The tournament attracted more
then 170 golfers aid rased thousands of dollars for COBA'sVVidows
l'rld Children's Fund.
"All those who attended were prize winners," said COBA
President NormEl1 ~brook:because they won the prize of helping
COBA help the widows and children of deceased New York Oty
Correction Officers:
9:lme attendees also won prizes a the event itself. They
included the winners of the lottery grand prizes: Retired Correction
Officers Thomas Rya1 and Donald Miller, who won the First and
Fourt h Pri zes, respect ivel y; Correcti 0 n Offi cer ..ames Hyl and, who
won ~ond Prize, end Michael Menzella of Aetna I nsuraice.who won
Third Prize.
Taking firg place in the tournament were carmine Campo.
Michael Faele,Vincent Coppola .r, and Michael Coppola, also known
as the Met Ufe Tean: taking second place were Richard Ullman, Ken
Ullman. Rich Ullman and Ken Monaghan, also known as the National
Vision AdministralorsTeam; and taking third place were ..bhn Driscoll,
..bhn LaRose of the NYPD,MikeV\elcome and Doc 83v~e,a1so known
as the Captai ns Endow ment Associ ation Team.
Ann Chiarvano and ..be Diesso won the Closest. to the Une
Prize, Richard Ullman 9'. and Mike Cook won the Longest Drive Prizes,
and Mike Pcele, Seve Gilman, Michael Menzella, Fren Asselta a1d Jm
S<.ellenger won the Closest. to the Pin Prizes.
COBA URGES ALL MEMBERS TO CHOOSE
SPECIALIST PHYSICIANS AT NO CHARGE
Wlf you have children, you need a peoiarician.
*If you have heart problems, you need a cardiologist.
*If you have hand problems, you need a hand surgery spa-
cialis.
And the servi ces of these and many more special ists are
free, through COBA and its new medical service, Continuum Health
Partners.
Available through COBA and Continuum are physicians and
medical services providing not only comprehensive primay care
but distinguished cae in such medical specialties as cardiology. der-
rnaoloqy endocrinology, ENT,gastroenterology, infectious diseases,
internal medicine. nephrology. neurology, OBtGYN, occupalona
medicine, oncology, opthamology. orthopedics. physical therapy, psy-
chiatry, pulmonary disease, urology, radiology, hend surgery and
emergency care.
For this C'dditional service there is no additional cost to you
other than your original co- payment tha is required for GHI or your
correspond ing health coverage pi an. What this meats is that if your
co-payment is $10. all you pay is $10.
Neither COBA nor Continuum is trying to replace your pri-
mary care physician. Continuum is provided as an alternative serv-
ice so that you and your family may gain access to specialized med-
ical experts a Beth Israel, 3. Luke's Roosevelt, Long Island College
Hospital and NY Eye & Ear Infirmary, to name a ie«.
It would be grealy in ~ur i nterest to ~ed a speda isl physi-
dan to help ~u whErlthe need ariSES.
For rrore informaion on this Q)ntinuum serwce, feel free to call
the da:.lic:ted telephone line tha O:mtinuum has set up for Cbrredion
Ofirers and their ran lies. The nurrtler is toll free (877) 420-4209.
You are also invited to visit our website at
www.cobanyc.org and access the Continuum link through the
COBA. web ste's''Links" section (available on the firs drop-down
menu on the COBA. web ste home page.)
 Held on S3ptember 14. with more than 9.000
Correction Officers atd their fanilles fVld very fEW
non-COs in attendance, COBA's Fifth Annual Rye
A ayland Farni Iy Day was by general consensus the best
9.Jch event ever held, as the photos on this and the
following three pages show.
All rides at Rye and all food was free for COBA
members and their families. The food, provided by
COBb., included hot dogs, hamburgers, barbequed
chicken, corn on the cob, bcKed ziti, baked beans.
tossed sala:l, ice crean and other desserts Live enter-
tainers plus a OJ provided the entertanrnent.
Correction Department talks, armored cars.
emergency service vehicles. rescue units and telecorn-
mu nications vehi cles were aJ I on di splay a the gates of
Rye with their crews, as has become trsdnlona. pro-
viding very popular guided tours of the vehicles for
both kids aid a:lults.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN DAY PARADE
Numerous New York City Correction Officers
ma-ched proudly in the city's 33rd Annua
AfriCCl1-America1 Day Pcrade on 9.mday,
~ptember 22, in upper Mcnhattcn. The paaders
mcrched from 111th 3. to 142nd 3. aid had a
great time aonq the way, as these photos show.
YEAR 2 0 0 2 (DBA CARDS AVAILABLE
Contribute to the COBA Widows and Children's Fund and honor the Correction Officers who served during and after the
V\A)rld Trade Genter disaster by buying as many 2002 COBA cards as you can. All proceeds from the sale ae earmarked for
the COBA Widows end Children's Fund. The cost is $1 per card. Orders should include a:lditional funds to cover postage:
37 cents for one to three cards, 78 cents for four to ten cards, and $1.56 for eleven to twenty cards.

Make checks payable to COBA. Widows and Children's Fund, 335

Broadway, 5th Roor, New York, NY 10013 (212) 274-8000.

(Pictu red in 1he upper righ1 on t he Year 2002 COBA. cards is New
York City Correction Officer Robert Martin ci Ground Zero wearing his
volunteer fire fighter gear.)

Pleasecomplete coupon below :

Name: _ P1easa sand me COBA Cards

Address: $ for # Cards
Address: $ for Postaqs
City : _ $ Total enclosed
gate: Correction Officers' Benevolent Association
Zip:
----- -------- Contact 8izabeth Castro (212) 274-8000

COBA FIRST CLASS

335 8 roadwav. 51h Aoor U.S. POSTAGE
New York, NY 10013
• Patroll in I he Toughes A'ecinC::: s l n New Yor k"
PAID
NEW YOfK N.Y.
?ermll No, 2418