VoxOp
POLICE DETAILS
"Those new to Massachusetts might wonder why police officers are often at construction sites instead of the usual flagman or flagwoman. Well, police must
be at those sites, and officers make a lot of money on the job. However, flagmen or flagwomen are a lot cheaper, and a new bill might take out the police
details.
"This might actually happen because Governor Deval Patrick and House Speaker Sal DiMasi, who seem to undercut each other at the slightest opportunity, are actually united behind the measure. Ditto Senate President Therese Murray."
CAROLINE ROBERTS
Bostonist.com
"Now, $5 million/year that the state spends on the details is not that big a deal, although it may add up to many times that when you include local roads.
But this is the test case for all the other important, cost-saving reforms that Murray has proposed. If the Legislature rolls over for the police unions
(again), then come the MBTA unions, with their cushy pension deal. Then come the toll collectors. Then come the contractors, who don't want the stricter
oversight that Murray's bill would provide.
"In other words, the Legislature buckles, the special interests win, and it's back to business as usual."
Exactly why the cops will get huge support to retain the boondoggle known as "details"....
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