BOSTON — Local veterans agents have voted to recommend that Gov.-elect Deval Patrick replace Department of Veterans Services Secretary Thomas G. Kelley, saying they want a fresh start and a stronger advocate. The executive board of the Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers Association voted 15-4 this week to recommend that state Rep. Anthony Verga, D-Gloucester, replace Kelley. Kelley, who has led the agency since 1999 under Republican administrations, is a Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War hero. "You've got to have somebody there who's going to be active for the veterans," Michael Lombard, president of the association and veterans agent for the town of Ludlow, told The Boston Globe. "This is not about the medal. It's about the Department of Veterans Services." Lombard said many veterans agents feel Kelley has not been a vigorous enough advocate for increases in benefits, such as housing allowances, and has not worked closely with the local agents who represent veterans in cities and towns across the state. The state has about 500,000 veterans, whom state officials of both parties routinely say receive one of the best benefit packages in the nation Kelley, 67, told the Globe, "I'm very proud of the record of this department ... and the record speaks for itself," When told that some veterans agents want a stronger advocate in the Statehouse, Kelley replied, "That makes me chuckle." He would not comment further. Kelley's department represents veterans' interests in the Legislature and ensures that programs are adequately funded. Felix Browne, a spokesman for Gov. Mitt Romney, said Kelley has "served with distinction." Richard Chacon, a spokesman for Patrick, would not comment Friday on the association's vote, other than to say that Patrick will carefully review all his appointments. Verga, 71, who could not be reached for comment by the Globe, is popular among veterans for his sponsorship this year of the Welcome Home Bill, which authorizes a $1,000 tax-free bonus for servicemen and women who have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops