Highlights and supporters of Quinn Bill measures

You have got to be kidding me! Let them use there overtime/detail pay to pay for college!!!!!!!

Incentives for police officers encourage them to further their education to keep them ahead of the curve, particularly in the hi-tech world that we live in today. this only makes sense. I want the people charged with protecting me and my neighbors to be the most educated and trained that they can be. Police officers work overtime and details primarily paid for by the companies that hire them outside the scope of their everyday responsibilities. Furthermore, police officers pay for their own college tuition out of pocket. While some may view that the Quinn Bill is "paying for their college, this is absolutely not the case. Most companies that hire better qualified candidates at a higher salary. I would argue that the standardized percentages are critical to maintaining fiscal responsibility, while at the same time prevent the alternative, which would be open-ended negotiations for police officers salaries, or even worse...poorly trained and poorly educated officers. An officer puts their life on the line daily to serve and to protect their community. The least we can do as a state is provide them with every tool and incentive for better education, to ultimately keep them as mentally prepared and ultimately safer when they are protecting our streets. By saying "You have got to be kidding me!...." this sounds pretty selfish considering you are one that these people our police officers are protecting. In my mind, it is a top priority to fund this program, and to support the Quinn Bill.

They don't get reimbursed for college. It's a structured salary increase based upon their level of education. Much like in the private sector you may get a raise for getting an MBA or advanced degree... the only way contract government employees can be rewarded is by legislation like the Quinn bill.

Just as anyone in Mass. would fight a salary decrease, we need to continue to fight for this bill. Police have already bore the brunt of the State's fiscal mismanagement with the loss of details, reduction of overtime, Layoffs throughout multiple departments, and hiring freezes.

Until the way salaries are negotiated is changed, this bill is essential. This is part of their salary people. Families are depending on this. A 15-25% pay cut, for the people protecting us each day - it's not right.

Wake up MAJ, there's no automatic salary increase in the private sector for completing a degree. Completing your degree gives you an opportunity to be considered for a better position in your current company if one is available. If not you have the option of moving to a better position in another company.
The Quinn bill should be repealed.

If you take away 15-25% of an officer's pay, most of them will be applying for early retirement and looking for jobs elsewhere. They rely on that money to pay their mortgage, bills, ect. Do you want some uneducated hick dealing with you at a time of ditress? The Police, fire, and other government municipalities have taken the brunt of layoffs and paycuts. How about we stop giving away free government services to illegals and revamp the unemployment system that has been taken advantage of for years.

You are supporting my point 'myopinion'. There is no way to advance you salary in a contract bound job like a police officers. You are right - in the private sector you have the opportunity to go for a higher position or look elsewhere - therefore increase your salary with a higher degree. No such opportunity within the police forces in mass as they are all bound to a set salary at hire. The Quinn bill or other legislation or a contract negotiation is needed here.

And thanks 'Buford T. Justice' you are correct. Police have too long been the quick spot to go to cut when our legislators can't manage the budget. Why not look at all the freeloaders across the state and not the hard working officers we'll need to depend on.