About Us
Board of Directors
Kenneth Wynder Jr., President
Kenneth Wynder Jr., President of L.E.E.B.A., served as a New York State Trooper for 13 Years before retiring with a disability pension. Ken graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Ken worked part-time in the security field for ten years as a supervisor after his State Police career. Ken founded L.E.E.B.A. in 2002 with the goal of uniting law enforcement and security employees under one strong employee association, an association dedicated to its members and not the interests of a national union. Ken has attended courses presented by Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and continues with his busy schedule to keep abreast of developments in the labor employment field.
Jakwan Rivers, First Vice-President/Director of Operations
Jakwan Rivers started his union journey in 1987 as a shop steward with the Consolidated Edison Company (Con – Ed) under the title of Cable Splicer and in 1997 he joined the NYCHA family and through his experience, perseverance and outspokenness, he was immediately elected shop steward representing TEAMSTERS LOCAL 237 housing employees. In 2003 Jakwan Rivers was appointed liaison between local 237 and the housing Authority by the executive board of local 237 supersizing a host of shop stewards while vigorously representing members grievances. In 2005 Jakwan Rivers was again appointed to the title of Business Agent working for local 237 full time representing thousands of local 237 members within housing. In 2009 & 2014 Jakwan Rivers ran for president of TEAMSTERS largest local in the international but lose by a extremely small margin. Upon his retirement in 2017, he recommitted himself and continued his deep desire to fight for the rights of working class members to obtain a decent quality of life and work prosperity. In 2017 he found his calling among a rare group that shared this passion of real unionism. This group known as The Law Enforcement Benevolent Association (L.E.E.B.A) is where he found a home of like minded people who truly understands Justice for one is Justice for all.
Steven Whittick, Treasurer
Steven Whittick is a former New York State Department of Corrections Correctional Officer who joined the NYC DEP Police in 2000. During his two years with NYS DOCS Steven was assigned to Eastern Correctional Facility and Sing Sing. Steven is a 1992 graduate of Queensboro Community College where he received an Associates Degree (A.A.S.) in Marketing. Since joining the DEP Police Steven has been active in union activity. He was involved with Joe Andreani in the early organizing efforts of L.E.E.B.A. with the DEP Police. Along with his duties as L.E.E.B.A. Treasurer Steven serves as a precinct delegate and coordinates the prescription plan with Drew Brown.
Laquan Word - Second Vice President/ Membership Coordinator
Laquan Word is a seasoned and progressive union activist with a decade of hands on labor relations experience. At the young age of 20 Laquan was employed by Teamsters Local 237 in its membership services department. As a member of OPEIU Local 153 he was elected as Chief Steward by Local 237’s clerical staff and security personnel. He spent a period of time as a student of the Cornell School of Industrial & Labor Relations studying collective bargaining and labor history. Before departing Local 237 after four years of service to its members and staff, Laquan successfully negotiated two contracts for his member’s as the head of the collective bargaining committee. From 237 Laquan moved on to Construction Laborers’ Local 79 where he ran for Brooklyn’s 18th Senatorial District in 2010 with an endorsement from the 17,000 member Mason Tenders District Council. He currently serves as Secretary Treasurer of the New York Hospital Police Benevolent Association.
Yolanda Moore - Recording Secretary
Brooklyn NY, born and raised. Yolanda attended John Jay University where she studied Legal Studies for 3 1/2 Years. In 1996, Yolanda was the Marketing Manager for Youngworld Department Stores, where she put together the School Uniform Department for the NYC Department of Education throughout the five boroughs. In 2000 Ms. Moore joined the New York City – NYPD School Safety Division, where she worked in Manhattan South as an SSA up until June 2001.
In 2001 she joined the New York City Department of Environmental Police Department, better known as DEP Police. During the course of her career as an officer for DEP Police, Yolanda became certified as a Recruitment Background Investigator, and worked as a Joint Terrorist task force officer, a Field Training officer, and her most recent appointment as Sergeant. Ms. Moore has been a Union Pct. delegate for L.E.E.B.A. since 2006, and it has been an awesome journey. She looks forward to continuing serving as an officer of DEP POLICE.