Details, details ...

Eddie,

Great article on police details that came out today. For once someone sees the other side of the coin. Maybe it will brighten the boy's spirits to read it. Are you going on Monday?

-Brian Blouin

My concern is, has somebody who has worked 68 grand worth of details, or in the case of a few on the BPD enough for total earnings over 200 grand, had enough sleep to make a split second decision whether or not to fire their gun?

For the cops, (and the unions) it's all about the money...flagmen will be cheaper, because, they will get paid for the hours worked! Cops who show up for detail's,
( example an all day job ) for say 8hrs. and the construction crew is done after 4 hrs. the cop STILL gets paid for 8 hrs...only in Massachusetts...

I have ultimate respect for police, but not at traffic details. They often do not direct traffic in Boston, but instead chat with the workers. Naturally, the police unions march in unison, and in a veiled threat, upon the Statehouse. Even a newly hired patrolman can expect huge salaries as a result of details. People do not have the money to heat homes in winter. Maybe some of these people could become flagmen. The door is open and legislators should next pass laws eliminating police details in cities and towns. Lest we forget, there is always overtime which can enhance a policeman's salary.

hmmm...how come any other state you travel thru has flagmen? You usually see a universal orange sign with a figure holding a flag. Common sense tells you that there's work up ahead and is proven by the fact that someone is usually holding a STOP sign. How come these other states can operate with flagmen, yet Mass police has to use the bully tactic of their unions to say they're needed for construction details? What is their argument? Face it; they have no argument, we as taxpayers are fed up with the extortion that is forced on our own government that robs us of our own money.

It's not all about the money. I'd rather have police officers... oh, I don't know... be out fighting crime???

hmmm...how come any other state you travel thru has flagmen? You usually see a universal orange sign with a figure holding a flag. Common sense tells you that there's work up ahead and is proven by the fact that someone is usually holding a STOP sign. How come these other states can operate with flagmen, yet Mass police has to use the bully tactic of their unions to say they're needed for construction details? What is their argument? Face it; they have no argument, we as taxpayers are fed up with the extortion that is forced on our own government that robs us of our own money.

The article forgets to mention that the detail pay is taken into consideration when the officer retires. So when an officer retires it's the taxpayers that are stuck paying extra for additions to their pensions from the detail pay, which are not part of their normal salary, for decades. Over time this adds up, and we shouldn't have to pay for it. Costs are already too high for local governments.

It's not all about the money. I'd rather have police officers... oh, I don't know... be out fighting crime???

It's not all about the money. I'd rather have police officers... oh, I don't know... be out fighting crime???

One of the police union's arguments is that details augment a police officers low low salary for the expensive town that they live in. Horse c**p! Gerard Corbett made 44K from details for a total salary of $121K. This is a base salary of $78K!!!! That is more then someone with a PhD in Biology or a Ms in Engineering. Police officers are not saddled with high educational costs unlike most of us and make just as much. I can afford to live in Waltham on the same money this guy is making ($80K) but I am not crying for a subsidy. You do not deserve to make this much money, and do not use the "we put our life on the line which you do not" argument. Statistics will show my commute to work is more dangerous then you 9-5 patrolling the mean streets of Newton and Natick.
Details are a paid nap for the officers. How many times have you hit traffic due to a detail and the officer is chatting/sitting in his car as traffic backs up. Flag men my butt!

chimp - like i said before they have NO ARGUMENT - anything they say to justify their cushy little details just doesn't hold water.

ahhh..Gov. Patrick, ball's in your court - WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

I personally experience the incompetence of Police detail workers ever since the massive Somerville Ave reconstruction project began. It was not uncommon for sidewalks to be closed, with a sign pointing pedestrians across the middle of the street, no crosswalk in sight. Also no police office in sight. 9 times out of 10 he was chatting with the construction workers while I attempted to cross through morning rush hour traffic myself. What a WASTE!