Author: Seriki
Why write
Imagine paying union dues every pay period with the expectation that the fund would be used to manage the members’ needs, only to discover that the president has stolen a considerable amount from the fund to splurge on his desires. I am a retired Probation officer who has followed this story since it became public in April 2024. It was shocking that Dominic Coluccio, the president of the United Probation Officer Association, stole such a large amount of money from the coffer of the probation welfare fund. Most probation officers within the NYC Department of Probation are women of color. Despite the absurd and shameful salary, officers continue to show up and do their work diligently. The officers uphold the agency; we perform the critical task of protecting the community while assisting our clients to re-assimilate into the community to prevent them from reoffending. We are not just peace officers who carry out the court order; we also assist in initiating counseling referrals, monitoring compliance for mental health and substance abuse, addressing employment challenges, addressing family relation challenges and support, addressing school challenges, and many more. Only those who possess passion and compassion for the community they serve will have such unwavering dedication. Although there’s extensive media coverage on this case, not a single media report touched on how Coluccio’s actions have directly impacted the officers who foot the bill for his dishonesty. On December 11th, 2024, the UPOA president released a memo emailed to everyone on her email list to announce the sentencing of her predecessor but failed to address the impact of his action on the members.
The background:
On April 11th, 2024, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office of the Southern District of New York states that Dominic Coluccio, the former United Probation Officer Association, pleaded guilty to stealing approximately $750,000 from the welfare fund. The welfare fund is a trust funded by members to provide supplemental benefits to members, and money is deducted from the members on every pay period. According to the report, Coluccio was facing up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, and he was ordered by the court to pay $684,929 in restitution to the UPOA and the fund. On December 3rd, 2024, U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield sentenced Dominic Coluccio to three years’ probation and home confinement, and he was ordered to pay restitution. The judge made a judicial discretion to sentence the defendant to probation due to his critical health conditions.
Authority Stealing
As I write my review on the outcome of this case, I can’t help but remember one of my favorite songs from Fela Anikulapo Kuti, titled Authority Stealing. Fela is a Nigerian musician, the creator of Afrobeat, and a political activist who used his music to focus on the injustice in Nigeria, Africa, and worldwide. Fela released the album in 1980, and here are some of the lyrics of the song in Nigerian pidgin English:
“You be thief (I no be thief)
You be rogue (I no be rogue)
You dey steal (I no dey steal)
You be robber (I no be robber)
You be armed robber (No be armed robber)
Argument about stealing
Somebody don take something
Wey belong to another person
Authority people them go dey steal
Public contribute plenty money
Na authority people dey steal
Authority man no dey pickpocket
Na petty cash him go dey pick
Armed robber him need gun
Authority man him need pen
Authority man in charge of money
Him no need gun, him need pen
Pen got power gun no get
If gun steal eighty thousand naira
Pen go steal two billion naira
You no go hear them shout (Thief, thief thief!)
You no go hear them shout at all (Rogue, rogue, rogue!)
You no go hear them say (Robber, robber!)
You no go hear them say response at all (Thief, thief thief!)
You no go hear them shout (Rogue, rogue, rogue!)
Na different way be them way
Na civilize style be them style (Yes, yes, yes yes!)
Hear the words them dey take deceive the people: (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Misappropriation (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Maladministration (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Nepotism (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Mitigation (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Make I remember another one wey them dey use (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Defraudment(Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Forgerylization(Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Embezzlement (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Vilification (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Mismanagement (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Public inquiry (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)
Authority stealing pass armed robbery (Yes, yes, yes, yes!)”
Dominic Coluccio as President:
In 1989, Coluccio became the president of UPOA, and I was not present, as I hadn’t joined the agency until 1999. In April 2015, some UPOA members, including probation officers and supervisors from the five boroughs, protested outside the union’s office in Queens before the office relocated to the Bronx. Coluccio was branded a “dictator” whose approach towards the members is with fear and intimidation. He was accused of manipulative behavior and corruption. The members accused him of violating the union bylaws when he refused to step down and allow the election of a new president. Coluccio would not notify the members when the time comes for the president or vice president election as he operates among his close circle within the agency. Any executive board member who disobeys his order could be kicked out. According to the authority report, Coluccio was engaged in numerous schemes and embezzlement between 2012 and 2019. After he graciously retired from his position in 2016, his vice president, Dalvanie Powell, became president, and corruption continued under her presidency. Even though a Titan deserves a break, Coluccio selflessly volunteered to take the responsibility of an administrator of the union welfare fund, which he took as his personal bank. He rewarded himself with six figures in salary, along with a UPOA pension, severance, and probation pension. Why not? He leaves no dollar behind.
Thinking back, I must have missed the memo about voting for Dalvanie Powell, the current president of UPOA, and her executive board members. It is the continuation of the old regime handpicking its inheritor. We now see democracy at its finest. Powell has been in her position for eight years, and no election has occurred. I am curious to know how long UPOA officials have to serve as president and the officials. We can look at a reputable local 768 DC37 AFSCME that serves and represents over 150,000 NYC employees and holds elections of their officers every three years.
Who to Trust:
Union members pay their union dues regularly with the trust that a union leader manages the financial interests of these dedicated members. Coluccio’s action exemplifies a tremendous breach of trust. The primary purpose of paying the dues is to secure better working conditions for the members, which is not limited to competitive wages and benefits. Coluccio enriches himself at the expense of members struggling financially to make ends meet. The financial shortfall from this atrocity contributes to an increase in union dues. We have yet to mention the emotional impact of his action and the outcome of the judicial decision. Talking to many of my fellow officers before my retirement, they felt betrayed and angry, and many were disheartened by the action of the leader who was supposed to represent and safeguard our interests. Trust in union leadership has diminished, leaving members less likely to support or engage with even the present union officials. Our morality is compromised as members, knowing that our union dues are lavished on luxurious personal expenses that bear no relation or benefit to the members. Have we also looked into the public perception or opinion of UPOA and how this scandal might breach the trust of those who want to consider becoming an officer with DOP?
The Union and the Probation Administration:
The new commissioner of DOP, Juanita Holmes, arrived with an air of authority and an intimidation mindset with little regard for the union’s autonomy. She was armed with an agenda to institute new rules, and a quick assessment revealed that the commissioner already saw the ineffectiveness of the union leader. She seized the opportunity to proclaim control since the union leadership was weakened. The new commissioner changed the work schedule by taking away the flextime, implementing the evening shift, and working on weekends. She mandated officers, their supervisors, and the directors to wear uniforms. The uniform includes shirts, pants, and shoes to mirror the NYPD standard, as she regarded probation officers as law enforcement. She ordered probation officers to carry guns. Even though she might want to call us law enforcement, our primary function as peace officers focuses on supervision and rehabilitation. The commissioner may need clarification on the function of NYPD and DOP. The DOP officers do not patrol the street to eliminate criminal activities or wear uniforms to discourage criminal activities taking place during patrolling as NYPD does.
The management also requires the officer to document their hourly activities and submit them to their superiors. Probation officers also experience disrespect and disregard for union autonomy from the prior Administration. Under the preceding Administration, the management hired supervisors and administrators outside instead of promoting from within the agency. Note that there is no advocacy for compensation or pushback on these changes from the union, and these new implementations were not considered in the new collective bargaining or contract signed by the present union president.
By the way, the union president was absolutely thrilled about what she viewed as the best collective bargaining contract ever. Imagine in neighboring counties where those officers are already earning six figures in less than five years, but here in NYC, our ground-breaking contract promised a whopping $81,000 in 11 years. For example, the job posting for a probation officer trainee in Westchester County listed a starting salary between $64,990.00 – $81,035.00. Many officers have left the agency due to poor working conditions, unconceivable new implementations, and low earnings even with the new contract. They either took early retirement or found better opportunities elsewhere. The result of financial misconduct weakens the negotiating power and ability to develop a better negotiating strategy to fight for better wages and working conditions and legally protect the officer against the Administration.
Reassessment of leadership and Dominance:
Effective, trustworthy, and compassionate leadership is the bedrock of any organization, maybe private or public. Dominic Coluccio, the union president, embezzled $750,000.00 from the coffer of our union dues. His action not only establishes a breach of trust and confidence in the union, but it undermines the very foundation of integrity that binds the unity of a union. Coluccio was UPOA president for 27 years and systematically suppressed the election of a new leader. During his term, there was a lack of accountability, and his defiance to change during this period has subdued and compromised the union’s ability to represent its member’s voices effectively. There has to be a deep discussion on regularly auditing the union so that they follow the rules according to bylaws, democratically elect a leader, and monitor the allocation of funds.
For organizations to succeed and sustain their membership, the members must demand accountability, reliability, and transparency. Moving forward, members must advocate and prioritize transparent election and term limits of the president and the executive members. This approach would convey the will of member belonging, inclusivity, and reassurance, and promote progress.
