To whom it may concern:When I first started in Bellevue as an intern, I was flabbergasted. Out of every hospital in NYC since young besides the immediate ones, this was special. I always heard of Bellevue in passing talks. How big it is or how wild it use to be. This new journey was everything a young man needed. With a Bachelor’s degree in International Criminal Justice, this was the perfect place to start. I was treated impeccable when I first started. As if I was being groomed now that I look back on it. Fast forward to 2016-2017 and I will never work law enforcement again. Why you may ask? All that debt and time to just say screw it?
I will simply chalk it up to…environment.
Yes counting all of the different types of people entering the building will do that. The problem and the psychological torture comes in when your own department treats you like filth. Yes I heard the countless stories of how horrible HP has been treated. The irony is though, when talking to the old heads, they would say it was a family then. Now?…It’s who can screw whoever first.
Thomas Egan
Giselle Wickham
Keith Franklin
Patrice Robinson
Sharon Rodriguez
I have heard, experienced as well as witnessed these five people creating a hostile work environment.
Instead of focusing on the job at hand, it becomes a who likes me and who doesn’t.
Special favors granted to those who rather a position over respect. The names mentioned above have made this job a living hell. The thoughts of working with them create anxiety…fear.
How do I behave?
What about my kids?
These people walk around all day, working (some) and create grief!!
Why are you smiling so much?
Things that have nothing to do with the job.
We here to work aren’t we?
I say that to say a whole lot…
Sharon Rodriguez has got to be the one of the most manipulative supervisors I have ever encountered.
She changes the overtime post and list order at her discretion.
Only her tour counts when doing multiple doubles.
She holds roll call to the point where many of us Tour 3 workers miss our connecting bus or train leaving us stranded in isolated locations. The next one doesn’t come for another forty minutes…weekday or weekend.
For what?
We are still figuring this one out.
She uses her power to imitate us such as watching us in the camera room for extended periods at a time.
She strategically manipulates situations so the outcome will produce red ink in your book.
Such examples can be
1. Trying to mandate an officer after midnight as he or she is going home.
2. Switching the order on the overtime list to favor her egotistical needs.
3. Favoritism to certain Officers which breeds contempt. A divide and conquer strategy that has been working to perfection from the top down.
When she told me I was to stay and I responded I did my overtime for the week, she replied “she didn’t care”.
When she tried to stick me after midnight, she would not answer any of my calls despite telling central I was to call her.
She plays these games, mental games, that causes great distress in our lives.
It’s as if we are stuck or at the mercy of these people.
We are given town hall meetings to voice our concerns yet even in there we are rushed with our director stating “let’s make this quick”.
Are we not to be respected?
Is it the uniforms?
The position?
What makes you better than any of us?
However this is actually how they act.
You are written up for minor infractions..
“A bag on post or reading materials after hours”…yeah I know.
The abuse of power is very real in this department yet you won’t hear any of it.
Why?
The institution of fear is the norm here.
Retaliation is a key tool used to keep us quiet.
When I was sent to labor by Thomas Egan for scratching out a write up, HE LOST that case. I was to be return to duty with all my money/time paid back to me. These egotistical people don’t like losing. Two days later I was hit with a counseling stemming from instances nine to ten months back. This…they lost as well.
They build paper trails on you here so when the day comes, BAM!!
Resign or we taking your pension.
For the greater good of the job or for you?
Sharon Rodriguez
Patrice Robinson
Giselle Wickham
Keith Franklin
I rigorously feel harassed at every turn by those mentioned above.
Wickham manipulates the schedule with no care in the world. Tour 1 and tour 3 seem to be the only tour who had to work both holidays even when some had it originally as an RDO. This has caused excessive absences due to scheduling issues. She changes the schedule whenever she feels as her recent stunt…two weeks already in the month.
“The needs of the department”…
I had to call out New Years Eve due to original plans being as I was originally off that weekend. Also due to this schedule change, I have had to work three weekends in a row. This week I have off Tuesday and Thursday in which I been scheduled to do overtime on the days prior. How is this a day off? I understand it is our job but why can’t the job understand we have lives outside of Bellevue. They promote fear in this department to keep us from calling out.
Another recent incident involving abuse of power with Wilkham comes from her first day on Tour 3. She made a statement detailing she doesn’t want Officers congregating on each other post. She asked if any one had a problem with what was said to which no one replied. With common sense and a tad bit of humbleness she would’ve understood this to be we didn’t. The problem arises when she asked four more times scanning the room with intimidation stares. She was behaving as if she wanted someone to jump. Provoking her officers into a write up. This is what we must encounter here.
It also seems to always fall on those not in the circle.
I refuse to name anyone but if you did a little research as we need, it’s for all to see.
Patrice Robinson, if not “liked” by her, will speak to you as if she is not your supervisor whose job is to supervise. I called for her once to be told “and you needed a supervisor for this”.
This is the work environment we must endure ON TOP OF dealing with agitated patients, visitors, etc.
She rolls her eyes when asked questions and her body language is beyond unprofessional.
Very hostile to the point I rather get in trouble then ask her for help. Sad indeed. My first year as an Officer she intimidated me into taking a flu shot. I was told “Officers who did not take it would be suspended”.
Later on I realized this couldn’t have been done yet I was still on probation. I was SCARED. This is normal life said here in Hospital Police.
The only three supervisors who ever made attempts to motivate (in my experience) were
Sgt. James
Sgt. Stewart
Lt. Semorile
…THAT’S IT!!
As I write this, I am shaking from a combination of fear.
Fear of retaliation.
Fear of losing my job.
Fear of acting out.
Fear of expressing myself as A HUMAN BEING.
I can longer hide or be quiet.
These individuals are breaking me down more as the days pass.
The outright disrespect when we ask for our days off.
The not paying us if we call out sick on weekends.
Is there set days to become sick?
The manipulation of our time sheets by these people WHO ARE NOT OUR TIMEKEEPERS!
Below you will find an example of such actions.
The outright in your face favoritism that plagues us as co workers.
You want to see how divided we are, put us all in a town hall meeting. Promise you it would not even make it past ten minutes.
The fear of losing meals, not paying the rent is why this is so silenced. Reason why a “man” named Keith can always try and mad dog me into submission.
“Pardon me I had to laugh at that”
I need something done.
WE NEED SOMETHING DONE!
I’m tired of being scared of coming to work.
Life is scary enough.
Hell the job is scary enough.
Why do my supervisors have to make it so here as well?
Isn’t it enough with CPEP and the 18 Norths?
I tried so hard to just go with the program.
I CAN’T!!
I understand the titles and its purposes.
Yet when abused, I no longer can.
We are worked heavy.
Back to back mandates with two hours sleep yet will get a write up if you dosed off.
Then depending on what mood they are in, the post you select to make overtime easy is denied.
Better yet pray you still got the post you chose for overtime unless Sharon Rodriguez has something to say. Officers having the ER post for their regular tour to be told they must have a similar post for over time.
When you express concern you get a simple “get up and walk around”.
You are told what post you will have.
Walk out?…write up!
Complain?…who cares?
Then on a double, they can care less if you are relieved in decent timing.
You been here since 0030 and you are being relieved at 1600-1700??
There is no reason for that when YOU KNOW I just did 16 hours and must return that same night.
If you not their favorites or them themselves, it doesn’t matter.
Don’t we all wear the same uniform?
Hold up…
AREN’T WE ALL IN THE SAME
DEPARTMENT??
FACE THE SAME DANGERS?
It can’t be changing the color of your shirt or stripes added.
You can’t be that weak can you?
Well…maybe.
TO WHOMEVER THIS CONCERNS…
WE NEED HELP!! WE NEED CHANGE!!
THIS DEPARTMENT WILL EVENTUALLY COLLAPSE DUE TO THIS.
Check how many people the department lost in the last ten months
…go ahead!!!
They keep at you until you either bend to their will or you simply run away.
I will do neither!!
Please do not ignore this letter!
Either help us or do away with the people that’s suppose to be helping us.
I find it kinda of ironic that some have went through proper channels to voice a concern. Then they would be pacified. Yet if we just called out instead we would be taken care of ASAP.
Why is the punishment handed so swiftly yet help takes its time?
The way of the world huh?
I have no qualms to keep writing to you.
No qualms about what ever may come my way.
Let’s be considerate and fair for once…shall we?
Yours truly,
Watch Person Thomas-Payne
PayneInTheCulo 