News

FROM OFFICER JACKSON TO ALL RETIREES - AUG 2026

spd3 I hope this email finds you well. I am reaching out to inform you that the Chief's office has eliminated my assigned unit (Community Relations Division) this week. I will be going back to patrol full time next week. I just want to reach out to all of you to say Thank You for all of the love and support you have provided over the last eight years. It has truly been a blessing working with all of you over the years! I promised to give all of you a building tour when your meeting(s) started back up. Under the circumstances, I will not be in the position to do so at this time. Please reach out to the Chief's secretary and ask if Chief Rusin can be your tour guide.

Have a wonderful day! = )

Respectfully,

Police Officer Marlena Jackson

Syracuse Police Department - Patrol Division, Second Platoon

SPD NEWSLETTER

spd3

Per Chief Rusin, SPD have developed a newsletter to keep our retirees informed of the current news at SPD. We will be putting this out quarterly.

The latest newsletter is here.

PBA CLAMBAKE - SEP 2026

Check the details on our "Coming Events" Page

MAY 2026 MEETING

Correspondence:

None to report

Old Business

None to discuss

New Business:

New SPD Police Chief Mark Rusin and 1st Deputy Chief Rich Trudell addressed the members. Chief Rusin appreciates retirees’ contributions to the SPD. He hopes to host our December Retirees Day at the new Police Station.
Chief Trudell: If retirees have problems with insurance, retirement system, etc.. contact him and he will assist you.
Sergeant at Arms John Tierney was given the Dutch Shea Award for his dedication to the Retirees Association. No volunteers yet to fill the position vacated by Brother Tierney.
Elections this year, since the November Meeting falls on the night before Thanksgiving, a motion was required to move the elections to the October Meeting. Motion was made by Brother Tony Sobon, Seconded by Brother John (Kid) Corbett. There were no objections.
PBA Golf Tournament 13 July 2026. Our Association will buy $100.00 hole sponsorship. Motion made by Brother James (Sparky) Boynton, Seconded by Brother Bill Rybak. were no Objections.
Scholarships: (2/ $500.00) won by Samatha Casson, Granddaughter of Bob Casson, Ava Bigelow, Granddaughter of Mike Marcely

Health & Welfare:

None to report

President Marcely thanked the Survivors Group for the desserts.

NEXT REGULAR RETIREES MEETING: 30 SEP 2026 - 1900 hrs

..... SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP .....

support

Phyllis Lorenz - "To help others who experience the loss of their spouse, attending calling hours, help with paperwork or anything else that may be needed. We can assist in finding painters, handymen, contractors & yard work.

You can contact Phyllis via email at phylgeorge@aol.com

..... OFFICER WELLNESS .....

cordico pba2

Det. Cowan has been assigned to our Officer Wellness position full-time. He wants to share the Cordico Officer Wellness program which provides our retirees an opportunity to utilize the App for officer wellness. If you have any questions about this, feel free to contact Det. Cowan at 315-748-0854.

The app is: https://www.cordico.com/syracuse-police-department/

..... AIR 1 FOUNDATION .....

air1

Please help keep Air 1 flying.

The Air 1 Foundation website (Facebook)

.......... IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL RETIREES ..........

HEATH INSURANCE INFO FOR THOSE NOT ON MEDICARE

The pdf attachment below, provides information about health insurance coverage for those NOT on Medicare
City of Syracuse.Retiree.BCBS.2022.updated

HELP FOR SENIORS

For information regarding help with your heating costs, click here
Onondaga County Dept of Adult & Long Term Care.. 315.435.3355
Info regarding Caregiver Services, EISEP, HEAP, HIICAP, Community Service, Adult Protective Services, Mental Health Services, Veterans Services

HONOR VETERANS

Retired SPD Officer John Marcon is reaching out to you to say that Veteran volunteers are needed to Honor Veterans in their homes. "It’s a short visit giving the Veteran a framed certificate thanking them for their service along with an American pin and a star from a retired flag. It is a humbling experience to interact with the Veteran and their families. It gives them a chance to share their experiences with someone they feel comfortable opening up to, another Veteran giving them a reprieve thinking about their situation. I talk with them not being somber but interacting as I would with anyone. I even tell some jokes"
Please contact Michelle Delvin at 315-634-1100 to inquire.

MEDICARE (Part A & B)

SPD retirees are reminded that they MUST sign up for Medicare Part A & B when they become eligible
That is when they reach age 65 or are declared disabled by Social Security.
At that point, Medicare becomes your primary health insurance and the City's health plan becomes secondary
See United Health Care Section below

MEDICARE-DRUG PRESCRIPTION PLAN (Part D)

Our advice (both the local and state organizations) is DO NOT sign up for Part D-prescription coverage at this time.
If your former employer has prescription coverage, there is NO PENALTY to sign up later. Plus, employers are encouraged by the federal government to keep their prescription coverage. They can receive up to 28% reimbursement for their expenses.

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM

Would you like to donate your time for a great cause and share your expertise with others?
The National Law Enforcement Museum offers several volunteer opportunities to fit your experience and your schedule. Visitor Experience Volunteers welcome visitors, provide general information about the Museum and help guests plan their journey through the exhibits. Event Volunteers help with special events, such as National Police Week and the Run for the Badge 5K. Volunteer Educators help lead high-quality, visitor-centered tours of the Museum’s collections and exhibits. Are you a current or former law enforcement officer? We have important volunteer opportunities for you, too. Law Enforcement Volunteers share their expertise with visitors and help them see what walking in the shoes of an officer is really like.
To learn more about the volunteer program, please visit the Museum's volunteer opportunities page.

NYS RETIREMENT SYSTEM

After creating an account, you will be able to conduct business with your NYS Retirement System without having to mail in forms or make a phone call
Retirement Online has the same security safegaurds used for online banking to protect your identity
For assistance signing up or help accessing your account you can call our Contact Center at 866.805.0990
We strongly encourage you to join more than 150,000 NYSLRS retirees who have opened Retirement Online accounts
Click here for their website.

NYS SAFE ACT & RETIREES EXEMPTION

We believe it only exempts retired officers from penalty of possessing large capacity magazines and/or assault type weapons if that retired officer was required to purchase that item by his agency when he was active as a Police Officer or was issued that item by his employer and allowed to keep it upon retirement. In both cases he must register that item within 60 days of retirement. Additionally he must have served at least 5 or more years with that agency and retired in good standing. He also must continually re-qualify with that weapon as required by law.
Link to actual section of the law

PISTOL PERMIT

You are now required to recertify your pistol permit every 3 years.
Here is the link to NYS Troopers website to check your status.

Federal Law HR#218 allows retired police officers to carry firearms across state line
IF..You have your retired ID with you AND proof that you have qualified with that type weapon within the last 12 months
Any state firearms instructor may qualify you including any that may be found on our SPONSOR page

..An important aspect of Federal Law HR218 is to remember is that it IS NOT a Concealed Carry Permit
..It is an "Affirmative Defense" to a State charge of weapons possession and that must be raised and proven by the defendant. You lose this defense if you are under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance. If you have a Concealed Carry Permit, consuming alcohol does not invalidate the Permit, but consuming alcohol does invalidate your HR218 meaning you are subject to a State charge of weapons possession.
..New York Penal Law 265.03, is very clear; if you are convicted of this offense there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 year in prison
.."A person is guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree pursuant to New York Penal Law 265.03(3) when that person possesses a loaded firearm (pistol, revolver, handgun, etc.) outside his or her home or place of business without a permit regardless of what the intent was".
..Under the laws of New York, loaded does not mean a clip in the gun or a bullet in the cylinder. If the firearm is capable of being loaded and the bullets are in the case with the gun or even in your pocket, you can still potentially be charged with this offense.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

..Maintenance drugs (those you take all the time) MUST be by mail order in 90 day supplies.
..The original prescription and one refill from the local pharmacy is covered. After that point you will have to pay 100% or use the United HC.
..If your doctor is changing the dosage, that is a new prescription and can be filled at the pharmacy until the dosage is regulated

PROJECT LIFESAVER

Unique transmitter from the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office for Alzheimer's patients
Contact the OCSD at 407 S State St - Syracuse - (315)435-3044

SURVIVOR HEALTH INSURANCE

SPD retiree survivors may continue your health insurance plan for a monthly payment.
Contact City of Syracuse at 315.448.8780 or 315.448.8445 for pricing of individual or family plans.

TAX DEDUCTION FOR INSURANCE PREMIUM

If your health insurance premium is automatically taken from your NYS pension, you may deduct the premiums from the taxable portion of your tax return. You must remember to write PSO; (Public Safety Officer) on the line where you report the taxable amount of your pension. This does NOT apply to Medicare Premiums because they do not come out of your state pension nor does it apply to your state tax form because state pensions are not taxable.

AETNA HEALTH CARE

If you are under 65 yrs of age Excellus is your insurance administrator.
If you are 65 and older: Aetna is your health insurance administrator.
65 and older: You MUST continue your current Medicare coverage & it's payment.
65 and older: Inform your medical provider to call the number on the back of your insurance card & not the providers number
65 and older: You need to notify your doctor/medical office to NOT submit their bill to Medicare but to the current insurance carrier
Nothing has recently changed regarding what is covered or co-payments, pharmacy choice, etc.
Covered under Part B of Medicare on the City of Syracuse Plan
.. Flu shots, Diabetic testing strips (Lancets and test strips) and glucose meter. You can get both of these at the pharmacy.
.. You can also get Diabetes testing supplies mail order.
.. You may also receive the flu shot at the doctors office with your insurance card.
If you ANY questions or issues contact City Hall: 315.448.8780 or 315.448.8445

VETERANS

If you served 90 consecutive days (or one day wartime) in the US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines you may be entitled to receive up to $6000 per month for a husband and wife towards nursing home expense or $1344 for assisted living
Contact the Veterans Administration for details

........ MEMBER BENEFITS & DISCOUNTS ........

The below offer a discount/benefit to you because of your membership.

stone

STONE DENTAL & DENTISTRY

You may have a dental discount available .. 315.214.0004 - 5663 E Circle Dr, Cicero

https://stonedentistry.com/

EDWARD DUNN .. ATTORNEY-at-LAW

He is offering his legal services, at a discount 315.427.5881 - 250 Harrison St, Syracuse

http://dunnrightlaw.com/blog/