The I.U.P.A. is proud to represent the members of the Milwaukee Police Association as well as officers across the United States, including in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. Milwaukee Police Officers Matthew Wagner and Dustin Langfeldt responded to a Critical Missing call of an elderly lady who had dementia and had been missing for several hours. The officers acted quickly to put out a BOLO and issue a Silver Alert. They then began to check areas her family told them that she typically frequents. The elderly lady’s car was spotted by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office a couple [...]

The I.U.P.A. is proud to represent the members of the Defiance Police Officers Association as well as officers across the United States, including in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. On June 7, 2021, Defiance, Ohio Police Department officers responded to a suicidal male subject in crisis. The subject repeatedly asked officers to shoot him. The subject then stated that he was armed. Rather than respond as the suicidal man wished, Sergeant Matt Skiver deployed the BolaWrap with Patrol Officer Levi Pauli present on the cruiser video holding cover with his Taser. The BolaWrap pinned the man’s arms [...]

Approximately 20 percent of adults are impacted by mental illness.1 For around 70 years, May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, meaning this is an opportune time for us to advocate, empower and listen. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with their mental health, you may find financial health suffers as well. Why? Because there’s a direct correlation between mental wellness and financial wellness. In fact, a recent study found that individuals with depression and anxiety were three times more likely to be in debt.     Avoidance of Problems Money is the second most common source of [...]

International Union of Police Associations FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Contact: Dennis J. Slocumb Phone:  1-800-247-4872 E-Mail:  iupa@iupa.org          Statement of President Cabral Regarding I.U.P.A. Family Member Being Awarded a 2021 Union Plus Scholarship I am beyond pleased to share with you that Daniel Padron of Lake Worth, Florida, son of Fernando Padron, who is a member of I.U.P.A. Local 6020, has been awarded a scholarship from Union Plus. The I.U.P.A. works hard to ensure that our members and their families enjoy the best benefits possible and this is one example of those important benefits paying off. Daniel is an impressive young man and most [...]

    Research has shown that more than 50% of working adults will experience a disabling episode of back pain at least once in their lifetime. There are several factors that can contribute to back pain. Occupations that have the highest occurrence of workers who suffer from back pain include those that require heavy and/or frequent lifting, and jobs involving sitting or standing for long periods of time. This condition can range from mild to severe. Symptoms experienced in the early stages of back pain include aching and tiredness in the back during the work shift, but symptoms disappear at night and [...]

Defined benefit plans, commonly referred to as pension plans, are becoming less and less popular in the private sector. Meanwhile, union workers and public sector jobs continue to provide pensions for employees. If most other industries have gotten rid of pensions, why do first-responders still have them and how should they play into retirement planning? This article will answer common questions about pensions for first responders as well as explore how they fit into your overall retirement roadmap. What is a Pension? A pension is often used to refer to a retirement plan option, of which there are two types: a defined [...]

It is far too often that we hear about K9 Officers succumbing to heat exhaustion. The results are heartbreaking and completely preventable! Right now, with unusually high temperatures across the U.S., it is doubly important to stay vigilant and protect our four legged, furry partners.     Heat exhaustion is defined as when the heat gained exceeds the body’s ability to dissipate heat. Risk factors include: dark or long hair dehydration a history of heat stroke overextended dogs muzzled dogs dogs who are tracking The temperature inside of vehicles can rise very quickly so it is important to monitor K9 Officers consistently [...]