You have heard a lot about the PBA's legal defense benefit program, its
benefits and its attorneys.  Some of you probably believe that's all it
is, just talk.  Well, it's not!  Here is a prime example: today, two PBA
legal teams won "not guilty" verdicts in two separate criminal cases.  Six
members represented by the PBA, fees and expenses paid by the PBA, with
attorneys provided by the PBA are no longer facing criminal charges for
allegations which arose out of the performance of their duties.  That is the PBA
legal defense benefit at work!

Three Dade County members, represented by the legal team of Douglas
Hartman, Michael Cornely and Richard Sharpstein, faced criminal charges relating
to an arrest they made.  Today, after a week-long federal criminal trial, a
jury found them "not guilty" on all charges. [About a month ago, Mr.
Hartman successfully defended a member of the State Corrections Chapter in
another federal criminal case.