Norman Seabrook
Norman Seabrook (Corrections Officer) is the former head of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association Union, COBA.[1]
Career
Norm was described by the NY Times as being a "Powerbroker" in NYC.[1] COBA represented over 9000 officers within the New York City Department of Correction. Norman became a corrections officer in 1995.[2] Norman was considered to be a power broker and strong union official. Norm fought for deals sometimes in unison with other City Unions including the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York and the Uniformed Firefighters Association.[3] Norm was known for his strong defense for Union members, and was said by the NY Times as being a "roadblock to reform." At Rikers Island, Union Chief’s Clout Is a Roadblock to Reform (Published 2014) In 2001, Seabrook was appointed by NY Governor George Pataki to a three-person, bipartisan Task Force to Reform New York State and New York City Elections.[2]
Accomplishments
Norm was instrumental in pushing through the "Feces Bill" which made it a felony to throw feces at a Corrections Officer.[4]
Norm was key in getting corrections officers attaining parity with the NYPD and the FDNY in pay and benefits.[1]
Legal Issues
Norman ran into legal issues and was charged with taking a $60,000 bribe in connection with a 20 million dollar investment of union members money.[5] Norm was said to have been "presented in a Ferragamo bag by Jona Rechnitz"[6] 19 million dollars of that investment was lost, but through lengthy deals 4.5 million dollars has been restituted.[6] The first trial ended in a hung jury.[1] Norman was eventually convicted of corruption and was sentenced to jail.[7] After losing his appeal, Norman was told by the judge that he had to go to jail by DEC 2020.[8] As a result of the legal issues, his bank attempted to foreclose on his home.[9]
References
- Weiser, Benjamin; Greenberg, Zoe (February 8, 2019). "Norman Seabrook Was Once a Union PowerBroker in New York. Now He Is Going to Prison. (Published 2019)" – via NYTimes.com.
- "Biography of Norman Seabrook". U.S. Treasury. 2002-05-24. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- UFANYC. "Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York - UFA News". FDNY Union Website. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- "After SDNY Sentencing Norman Seabrook Tells Inner City Press YouTube Is Doctored But Here It Is". www.innercitypress.com.
- Brown, Stephen Rex. "Former jails union boss Norman Seabrook loses appeal in bribery case". nydailynews.com.
- STEIER, RICHARD. "Deny Seabrook Appeal Of Bribery Conviction; 58-Month Term Near". The Chief.
- "Norman Seabrook, President Of Correction Officers Benevolent Association, Sentenced To 58 Months In Prison For Accepting Bribes In Exchange For Investing Union Money In New York-Based Hedge Fund". www.justice.gov. February 8, 2019.
- Feuerherd, Ben (August 21, 2020). "Ex-jail union head Norman Seabrook must go to prison by December, judge rules".
- "Deutsche Bank aims to foreclose on the home of former jail union leader". Crain's New York Business. August 25, 2020.