Boston Police to lay off 60 people, Davis says in memo

Sounds like a great place to start.
They were given the option of pay freezes and decided not to accept.

It's a no win situation, if we layoff officers and then you have more taking advantage of 100k in overtime year over year.

with crime on the rise, now is not the time to be cutting the police force

Makes sense, don't think the horse cops or bicycle units have ever gotten more than silly misdemeanors in Boston Common. Now with herb legal, they can arrest even fewer people. There are too many cops in this one horse town anyways.

This just in - Boston becomes the crime capitol of the world.... this is just ridiculous

Why fire cops? Why not fire some of the do-nothing dolts in the bowels of City Hall. Talk about patronage jobs - these people turn doing nothing into an art form.

The horses should be cut.. I've never understood why Boston needs police riding around on horses. Have they ever even made any arrests? I think they are only for show, and it doesn't seem like the most logical way to make their presence known.. In addition, the city should be taking away some of the police cars and putting more officers on foot patrols.. I don't think I've ever seen officers WALKING the streets of Boston, which would probably be the most effective way of reducing crime and cutting costs at the same time.. But then again, the police unions probably would not go along with anything that would require physical activity.

One would think that bicycles are way cheaper than cruisers to maintain; ergo maybe they shouldn't be the units cut. Better yet, increase foot patrols further.

How is this devasting? 12 cops are getting laid off. My company just cut two thousand people. The horse patrols in Downtown Crossing served no purpose to begin with. What is the big deal with getting rid of them?

This is an elaborate con job by Lisa Signori, Sam Tyler, and Menino. The City could easily tap into its $800 million "Rainy Day Fund" or abatement overlay accounts to make up this $20 million gap. or you could force a bunch more people onto the unemployment rolls (or, the "dole", as it's called in Ireland).

Why eliminate bicycle policing in warmer months? Bicycles are certainly less expensive than squad cars to equip and maintain, plus those who ride them actually maintain their fitness instead of sitting around in an idling car. Bicycle patrols don't contribute to the city's emissions. Officers on bikes can get to many of the places cars or foot officers cannot. This doesn't sound like an effective way to save some money.

what no Union response....anarchy in the streets, we've worked so hard for these positions BLAH BLAH BLAH - whine - whine

Does anyone know of a way to hedge glue futures?

The bike units are the most successful & useful community tools for the police. We should have more police in our communities on bikes – not less!

People need to be able to interact and see the police within their neighborhood. Officers sitting in their cruisers (either doing official work or sipping coffee) does nothing to promote community relations.

What is the added cost associated with police on bikes? Why would they be disbanded? Isn’t this a cheaper and more effective way of policing?

Menino has it entirely backwards. Unfortunately, like so many other things in Boston, this makes no sense.

This is more scare mongoring by the City of Boston. There are literally dozens of people in City Hall making over $100,000 a year who quite simply should not be earning anywhere near that kind of money. Cut the wages of those making ridiculous amounts of money before you threaten to reduce the number of police officers.

Crime always rises in a bad economy. Especially with so many so many services and programming being cut. Pay the cops, charge it to the plastic.

Good - it's about time some of the wasteful spending by the city, and especially by the Boston PD, gets cut. Now if we could just cut the ridiculous salaries and overtime 'detail' pay for the PD we'd start to make a meaningful difference. It's absurd how many Boston cops and firefighters make well over 100k. The unions are killing this city, state, and country.

OH NO NOT THE HORSE UNIT!! WHAT'S NEXT THE BAG PIPE PLAYERS?

We are so close getting the streets back in order and now we are going to cut officers were neighborhoods need it the most. Let give all the gang bangers their guns back.

Deval Patrick approved a 5.5% increase in pay to 200 members of the Legislature at the beginning of 2009. A few weeks later he addressed community leaders at a meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Association and stated "Unfortunately, we have reached that last resort” in reference to the drastic measures of cutting state aid to cities and towns. Then he turned around and approved a 4 percent pay increase to union employees over the next 2 years.

According to the Globe on Feb. 5, North Reading Police Chief Edward Nolan listed the following statistics for last year: 550% increase in larcenies, 300% increase in assaults, 238% increase in burglaries. Now. Gov. Patrick wants to cut police protection.

Wise decision Mr. Patrick, I just hope your wife doesn’t give you free reign of the credit cards. You might be tempted to spend some ridiculous amount of money on new curtains for your office instead of buying milk and bread during these desperate times. Oh, wait, on second thought, you could just charge it to the taxpayers...

Oh no! Not the horsies! Come on find a way to keep the 10 on. They're probably working their butts off in that academy. It's like boot camp. If they make it through then they should be on.

What a joke,not one person is actually getting laid off. The ones at the police academy don't even have the job yet. Cut some of the FAT and then we will think something is being done!!

Mr Kelly is not going to like this!

Unions need to take the pay freeze -- like everyone else in the city has had to do -- the economy stinks, not getting raises stinks, but losing valuable services and jobs stinks more. If the unions are about working people, why aren't they willing to accept a wage freeze to preserve jobs.
The whole scenario just smacks of the kind of gimme mentality that has contributed to the tough times. There's plenty of unemployed folks with college degrees across a broad spectrum who'd be more than happy to work if the city told the unions to shove it.

Big Brain,

Just saw this story about police horses and thought of you.

Best,

Tim

Great--Boston Common and environs will become less safe without mounted police. This will reverse any strides they made.

Get ride of RESIDENCY for the cops!! Whats up with this 10 year and out plan? TOTALY UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Wouldn't it make more sense and save more money if you got rid of the cruisers that often sit idling wasting gas and put more cops on bikes, which cost nothing but a few cliff bars to run

Go ahead take away the people who make some of us feel safe when we have to walk down the street. In east boston we see the police on the walking beat and on other duties across the city we have gotten to know 99% of the police in EB i know that if my kids have a problem they can turn to anyone of them for help now you are talking about taking them away i feel we need more police on the streets of Boston not LESS take a look around and see what you are doing this is not the place or the thing to CUT we need our COPS here.Please do not remove any of them from Our City.

For crying out loud.
Take the pay freeze like most workers in these troubled times. Many folks are not only taking pay freezes but also pay cuts.

Do what's right for the city and people you swore to protect!

The city is hurting for money. Why isn't there a list of business'/peopole who owe back taxes? Just like the church that was on fire 2 weeks ago on the corner of Blue Hill ave. and Columbia Rd. They owe close to $400,000 in taxes since the 1960's. This would save a few jobs. Also, who is not doing their job since the 1960's? how many others go back this far and get a pass?

That's brilliance in action - get rid of the low cost, high effectiveness bike patrols so we can keep more cops idling in their Crown Vic's wasting gas.

The Herald story Also talks about the anticoruption unit taking a hit.Of course that isn't reported in the globe .just like the investigation into the Menino families unpaid use of city employees to repair their homes.

The bike unit seems incredibly important to me. I live in Dorchester and I like seeing the cops on bikes ride through my neighborhood. I have no doubt they make my neighborhood safer, and they must be cheaper and better for the environment.

Wouldn't it be smarter to put more cops on foot patrol and bikes, and eliminate a few cruisers? It would save gas, and the cops would be in better shape. The mounted unit is very popular with tourists, and helpful for crowd control.

Not "loaned." Lent.

Bicycles? Cutting bikes is a pretty foolish move.

How about instead of cutting low paid cadets and low paid civi jobs and putting overpaid cops in them at higher rates, we cut some of the fat salaries adn bennies of the Boston cops get and eliminate overtime? Oh, wait, that would be like the private sector, where we cut things that actually reduce costs and try to save money.

Keep the mounted unit. Reason? Each time the great sports teams of our grand city win a championship who is there to help enforce order in the way only a 1 ton living thing can? Horses. I was there for the winning of the ALCS and World Series of 2004 and let me tell you without those horses, there would have been mass chaos. They were able to keep the crowds at bay. When a horse comes through and tries to break up the crowd, I don't see too many people standing and milling around the same way they do when officers walk through.

Who is more important to this city: those who push paper and sit behind a desk while earing way too much money or those that protect our safety? Don't ask City Hall employees if they mind a pay freeze, tell them they are taking a pay freeze and that's that! It's not like they are asking them to take a 50% decrease in pay just that they won't have those thousands of dollars in bonuses. I think thats fair enough compromise.

all cops should be forced to live within the city and they should be fired if they cannot pass a legitimate physical fitness. We need more younger cops in shape and less fat slobs pounding down hoagies at the sub shops.

Scare tactics. Tomorrow it will be fire department cuts, then EMS cuts, teacher and school cuts. When do we get the cuts at CITY HALL -- the patronage jobs, the executive assistants who make 100K, the members of this commission and that board and this focus group or steering committe and the aides and liaisons -- cut the crap and lay off people from the top down.

Tell the unions to screw and give all the jobs to the hoardes of newly-laid-off-but-well-educated people who are looking for employment and willing to work for a fair wage.

let me get this straight, there are 9 employes to care for 10 horses?
i have 11 horses and care for them by myself. maybe they have too many staff
and need to cut there, not officers.

Dan (#10)
It would be foolish for the city to use rainy day funds to pay employee salaries. You don't use one time money to fund recurring expenses. They do use police as a pawn in a giant game designed to scare people into accepting other cuts but Lisa Signori knows her stuff, like it or not.

A Citizen - I'm pretty sure churches and other non-profits are exempt from real estate taxes.......similar to all of the universities (although they make "voluntary" payments)

Menino is now proving he cannot handle the job as mayor. This is the first time he has not had everything going his way. Rather than laying off non-essential employees,he goes after police, teachers and firefighters. Time for hope and change! Time to vote him out. He has no vision and no solutions.

6 police officers for Every 1 Sargent, about 6 Sargent for every one Lt. about 6 Lt. for every Captain, I Deputy Superintendent for every Captain (just about) and one Superintendent for every 3 or 4 Deputy Superintendents. and one Commissioner. 20 Deputy Superintendents at 150.000.00 each. and they lay off 20 cadets making 20,000 a year. Do the math.

What is the big deal 95% of those that comit crimes are never caught,50% of those caught are not convicted and 90% of those convicted are just let go on probation.

"Loaned" is perfectly acceptable.

let's be honest here. what percentage of the force do these layoffs represent? it's so insignifigant that it's not going to have an effect on crime at all. also, didn't 1,400% of police officers make over $100K last year? please tell me one private section company in this whole state that had 1,400 of it's employees make over $100K last year? these cops have really lost touch with reality.

1. For the people that do not understand the need for police horses...they are used primarily for crowd control because of the better view it gives the officers.
2. The police union has not said no to a pay freeze yet, so until they do, get off their case. I am sure most officers would take the pay freeze if it meant they got to keep their jobs. This is a union issue and most unions are corrupt.
3. For all of the haters out there who cannot understand why some officers make over 100k a year...it is because they work 100 plus hours a week. I do not see many other people working that much and if they do they probably make a good amount of money.

Ok so lets cut cadets who are making half what those detail cops make. Where is the smarts in this city. You can have 2 cadets for 1 veteran Duh. But you go after the small dollar guy. Also your cutting the horses good. All they have done for the last two months was walk around Fenway and then the cops sit in the truck for a long break. Maybe BTD can go over to Newbury St on the back side of House of Blues and fire the tired workers who go there to sleep. Maybe the statie on the storrow drive exit who does nothing can take a pay cut or find a new job. This state stinks and its not Deer Island its more like City Hall and Beacon Hill.

They should hire some H1B cops like the private industry is doing.

They should hire some H1B cops like the private industry is doing.

Who are the 4 cadets being kept and how are they connected to Menino?

Signori does know her stuff, about crunching numbers, but if looking for the rude MLC ladies ...LOL... check outside the building by the back door to Congress Street thats where they go to smoke every hour. I wish my job would let me get a break every hour for 15-20 min. ??? who is the supervisor of that area? wonder what they get an hour

I think it's about time the teachers stopped being so greedy as well. They have good paying jobs, loads of time off, summers off and yet they're never willing to give back to this City. They are greedy bunch who don't appreciate the good thing they have. As for the firefighters, there is no doubt they have a tough job AT TIMES, but they never seem willing to negotiate and they most definitely should be drug tested.

Cut back on those details & use flagmen like other states. Making cops keep in shape is a good idea- cut out the donuts-shape up or ship out- this goes for you too, firefighters!

My recommendation is to first get rid of half of the cruisers. Keep all of the patrolmen and give them all bicycles.

so if we keep the bicycle cops and get rid of the cruisers where do the arrested criminals go??? on the handlebars?

there are too many over generalizations being posted here. the BPD officers I know are extremely hard-working, young and in shape men and women who risk their lives everyday to keep us all safe. while i do agree that there are some officers that are an absolute waste of money, i do not believe that it is fair to stereotype.

Keep the bikes. Ever see a cruiser jump a curb and barrel into the park after a drug dealer? Bike cops nailed him. Right across from the Mason Elementary School. Keep the bikes -- they're more friendly and accessible than a cruiser and a nice street presence too.

who cares?most of you people dont want the death penalty, think its great poheads can light up in public amonst your kids and think everycriminal deserves a second chance in your bleeding liberal hearts. Lets lay off all the cops and then rehire them at 25k a year...after all thats what you idiots think thats what they should get paid....and lets sit back and watch as your mom gets her purse snatched...your dad dies of a heart attck bc we werent around, banks get hit...tough guy bouncers can handle all fights..yeah that would be great...because cops are so overpaid....funny how you jealous people dont apply fifor the job though

Let me explain something to all you detail haters. PRIVATE COMPANIES pay for details the TAXPAYER does not. NStar is paying for that officer, Keyspan is paying for that officer. And by the way the city makes 10% of the money each officer is earning while performing a detail.

Don't sound like 20 million to me. What else goes?

Cut 10% of the cops and put the rest on foot patrol. Everybody needs to do their part. Good riddance. Police have given us citizens more problems than the criminals.

Hey toomanycomplainers:

It makes NO SENSE at all to pay officers over $100K per year. It is true that it is better to pay some overtime as opposed to hiring additional employees. However, if you have people working significant overtime at time and a half or double time, it costs much, much more than it would to hire someone to fill a new position.

Any business that expects to pay millions in PLANNED overtime is SEVERLY MISMANAGED.

walkamileinmyshoes:

Who do you think pays for those details that NStar and KeySpan fund? It's billed directly to rate payers. In addition, any time the city itself does work, the city pays directly for the details.

The bottom line is that 95% of details can be done by a flagman.

Anyone who posted comments that imply you are happy these cops are being laid off is a lowlife. Celebrating something as awful as a group of people losing their jobs through no fault of their own is disgusting.

Nothing catches the attention of a large, rowdy, out of control crowd better than the Boston Mounted Police Horses. They have the ultimate respect. Positive interraction with the public on all levels in all different situations. That's the reason this unit has been around for so long. Because it works. While reviewing where to cut back, I hope there is still time to understand and realize and hopefully come to our senses of how important the Mounted Police Unit is, before it's too late. What a shame this would be. Please dont let this happen to our city.

It looks like not a single cop is actually getting laid off. The article says:"20 civilians and 40 cadets" Cadets are not really cops - and civilian jobs consist of call taking. Horsies will go back to being horsies - and officers that used to ride them will go back to crusers...what is this fuzz all about...I don't get it

Since the police will not be there to protect the public, it is time for Chief Davis to issue permits to carry to responsible gun owners who will need to protect themselves.

Imagine, the only agency open 24 hours a day 365 days a year just to answer your calls for help, protect you from chaos in the streets, risk their lives, go through intense training paid for by the city and now your going to lay them off. Menino you act like you sound.

Interseting hearing all of the cops chime in on the subject here. 100+ hours of work a week? Come on - no way that happens on a regular basis. If it does, that is criminal in and of itself for pure safety reasons. People can't work 15 hours a day for 7 straight days without severely diminished basic functionality. Taxpayers are being put at risk of a cop causing an accident and getting the city sued if this is remotely true. And 'walkamileinmyshoes' - wake up. So called 'private companies' like Keyspan and NSTAR are passing those additional costs mandated my law in this city and state directly to the consumer in the form of higher rates, essentially another form of taxation, cleverly disguised as utility costs.

Hey jeff thompson:

The globe covered the story about Menino's house repairs by moonlightling city employees on the front page.

Why is this the top news! Some of us have seen much worse scenarios. Those of us in the private sector are tired of headline news for public employees "woes". Yes, I saw >30% reduction in my group at work, but does this makes the news?

I have nothing against cops , but their excessive overtime pay is insane!!! I't's ok for a private company to pay this. No, no, no. I have to pay for this one way or ther other.

To Phony user:
"95% of details can be done by flagmen" is an idiotic thing to say. In Massachusetts flagmen have a union which requires them to be paid roughly 31.00 an hour whereas police get roughly 40.00. A savings of a whopping 9.00 an hour for less trained people who cannot do anything more than a regular civilian. At least when an officer is on detail, he can respond more appropriately to most dangerous situations or offer backup for catastrophes nearby. I know from experience that drivers in Massachusetts do not pay enough attention as it is, even with officers on detail making it dangerous for the workers on site. If flagmen were paid a much lower wage, as they are in other states that use them, then I might agree that most non-major road details could be done by flagmen. But that will not happen in this state.

I think that wiping out the Horse Unit seems like a good idea, but wiping out the Bicycle unit isn't. How about resting a quarter of BP's cruisers and move them to both Bicycle & Foot Patrol Units?.. This will save the city from vehicle maintenance and "gas" (if you compare the maintenance on a police cruiser to a bicycle, you see the high difference. In fact if you can do a bit of maintenance to your weapon, then you can do maintenance to your work bike). At the same time it will save those officers from loosing their jobs, that now in days are hard to find with all this "laying off" left and right everywhere.

I've seen other comments which a user suggest for Chief Davis to approve/issue License/Permit to carry a fire arm to responsible people?. I don't think so, why?. Simply because no one that hasn't been physically trained and psychologically evaluated should be issue a permit to walk around the city with a loaded gun. Imagine that by mistake you cut someone off while driving and that responsible gun holder driver gets upset about it, gets off his car and just shot you?. I don't think so!. Powers to arrest? May be. At least it will be a bit less dangerous being arrested by an upset "cop want to be" due to his/her personal problem, than getting shot at. We're talking about reducing cost and keeping the city safe, not reducing civilians and raise the crime rate.

Laying off 40 cadets is a ridiculous way to save money. These cadets are the lowest paid employees working for the Boston Police. Whose going to do their job when they get laid off.....a $30/hour patrolman doing the job a $15/hour cadet was doing???? How is that saving money!

They were employing 10 people just to take care of the horses?!? Obviously none of these 10 people were assigned to horse poop patrol. And neither were the police. I walk through the Boston Common and it was disgusting to see big piles of horse shit on the paths with people trying to walk around the fly attracting crap. AND trying to walk around the horse shit on Charles Street, Beacon Street and Park Street.. The officers of course never cleaned up after their mounts. Boston will be better off without the horses. Thousands of tourists coming through the Common every year to see the State House, walk the Freedom Trail and so on must see all the horse shit and think that Boston is the dirtiest city in America.
Glad to see the horses go!

Can't they just put a cop hat on a horse and use him at details? He seems qualified, well, he might have to attend a class to talk on a cell phone, with pay of course.

All you people making fun of the cops being laid off don't have a clue what it is that POLICE OFFICERS do or the worth of the various units (Mounted, bicycle etc) have in the community!
Well when that next terrorist strike hits - you ALL will be crying for more POLICE! And as the economy worsens - what do you think people will do? You will need more police than ever before!
So - go ahead - laugh - make fun - and sit back and see what happens when you dismantle that "thin blue line" between you and the criminal!

As far as making fun of Police, this is terribly wrong. However, there are good cops and there are the bad ones. Have you run into either? I have. Just be careful, they might want revenge. If anyone deserves not to be cut, it's the one's that really have their heart in their jobs, not the one's that give them a bad name. Cut out the trouble makers. You know who they are!