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Celestino Monclava writes in response to a letter in the New York Daily News from Charles T. Compton titled 'A conviction isn’t always disqualifying,' that defended former Correction Officers' Benevolent Association president Norman Seabrook. It followed Monclava's initial letter in the May 29 edition of The Chief criticizing the union leader.
To the editor:
In response to your claims that you don't know anything about the circumstances that led to Norman Seabrook's criminal conviction, my answer to you is: google his name and read the many articles that describe him and if you wish to explore further, type up his name on NatWest and read how he was found guilty of betraying his own membership for illegally withdrawing $20 million from their annuity fund.
I also know just how corrupt the system is because I too experienced it firsthand, when I filed a lawsuit against Norman Seabrook on behalf of a victimized coworker (see Negon v City of New York) in 2010 as well as a lawsuit against him and our corrupt union's law firm (see Wharton v City of New York) in 2008.
Like yourself, because I constantly challenged a corrupt department and a shady union president who forsaken his members that had to brutally endure unfair hardships, after losing the union election for president in 2012, I had to constantly deal with retaliation that was so severely unjust, I too was wrongfully terminated, as I had to simultaneously care for my dying wife.
In your second paragraph of your letter: you claim that you found Norman Seabrook to be a productive and effective leader and because of his charming and charismatic appearances on camera and at functions, I can see how you were fooled by his captivating speeches and his (sometimes) over-the-top performances.
But to someone who was actually in the trenches, I assure you that he was not the man he publicly made himself out to be. Instead he was an absentee leader who abandoned his entire membership well over 20 years ago and was ruthless to anyone like myself, who so much as questioned him.
If you or anyone else wants to know more about my personal battles fighting the corruption and torment that went on all throughout the department of correction, I encourage you to read my lawsuit (see Monclova v City of New York) that was filed in 2013.
If you want to know what his members had to endure under his negligence and corrupt tactics, I encourage you to read my book Broken: Dedication Will Never Be Enough and as I told the federal court judge at his sentence hearing: if you want to know who the real Norman Seabrook is, just google "Seabrook's racist rant" and you can hear him telling his members that we were nothing but niggers and spics with a badge.
Celestino Monclava
Monclova is a former correction officer who ran against Seabrook for the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association's top post in 2012.
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reenjoe
Mr. Monclava, I had the displeasure of meeting Norman Seabrook once during my career. At the end of a Queens CB3 meeting at which a request was made to place a red light camera at an intersection used by CO's, Seabrook asked that I ignore the CB's request. He told me that he knew his members (as well as himself) run the red light daily to speed their ride home.
I politely said that ignoring the request was impossible as it was officially made on the record.
To be honest, I was shocked that a Union president would ask such a thing knowing full well the dangers he and his members were posing to public safety.
Wednesday, June 3 Report this
I read Monclova’s book almost three years ago & was astounded on how heavily corrupt the department, his union & Norman Seabrook were. It’s a must read.
Thursday, June 4 Report this