Police Detail News (merged Threads)

Police details slashed in transportation reform pitch

By Casey Ross
Thursday, March 27, 2008 - Updated 20m ago
Boston Herald Reporter

A sweeping transportation reform plan announced today proposes to curb the use of police details on road projects, slash employee benefits at the MBTA and Mass Pike and force all transportation agencies to publicly report cash flow on major construction projects.
Senate President Therese Murray announced the measures today in a press conference with Gov. Deval Patrick and House Speaker Sal DiMasi, all of whom proclaimed an urgent need to implement reforms to help dig the state out of a $19 billion transportation funding deficit.
“Our transportation system has got to be addressed,” Murray said. “Everything has to be on the table. We’re under no illusions this set of proposals is perfect, but we know it is of the utmost importance to our economy to start this conversation now.”

Despite the focus on transportation policy, the press conference was closely watched amid the ongoing war of words between DiMasi and Patrick. Patrick today accused DiMasi on the front page of the New York Times [NYT] of engaging in old-school politics to kill his casino proposal.
Patrick and DiMasi made a concerted effort to compliment one another during the press conference, and both men pledged to work together to implement the transportation reforms as quickly as possible.
“There are a whole host of initiatives we have worked on and continue to work on successfully,” Patrick said. “We had a sharp (difference) over the resort casino proposal ... but it was a difference. It doesn’t mean that good work doesn’t get done.”
DiMasi declined to respond to the language used by Patrick in the New York Times piece (the governor said the speaker should be “called out” for strong-arming House members); instead the speaker decried efforts by the news media to always insert a slant in their coverage.
“The papers are used to put forth a twist or a bent on something,” DiMasi said. “And sometimes that’s not reality. The reality is I’m working with the governor. We’re working very closely with the governor on (transportation), (the $1 billion) life sciences proposal and all of the other issues.”
All three leaders declared united support for curtailing the use of police details on road projects – long a “sacred cow” of Massachusetts politics that is often criticized as a wasteful give-away to police unions.
Murray said the transportation and public safety officials will craft a regulation for the use of civilian flag men on projects on secondary roads where traffic is moving more slowly. Police would still be used to direct traffic at work sites on major highways. Officials said the plan would save $100 million over 20 years.
Patrick said he is moving close to announcing another raft of reforms that would consolidate quasi-public agencies – the Mass Pike, MBTA and Massport – into a single structure to increase transparency and cut costs.
He said the reform plans will be introduced before officials consider a hike in the gas tax or expanding the use of highway tolls to help pay future transportation costs.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

That is the funniest thing I have read in a long time.

OK, Sal. What ever you boys say. Which one of you will start the flag man business, or is it a partnership?

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

This whole episode reminds me of that little pig story. "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down." Yeah, ok. Jealous, deep pocketed pols.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Here comes the merger! Stand by to stand by

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

I see a flagman I'm the first one to drive into the hole

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

This is not good, its war time.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

You do that now even with those coke bottle glasses.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Do people honestly believe that the Pols will pass the alleged "savings" on to the "taxpayer"?

The Pols love to use self serving cliches about how cops aren't paid enough money when they're seeking union endorsements. Of course once elected are the first to deny them the opportunity to earn extra income for their family.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Next thing they should consider is freezing their pay raises and benefits package.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

How about a cut in welfare or section 8 benefits. You know, the FREE GOVERNMENT HANDOUT that many lazy people are taking to sit on the couch, smoke cigarettes and watch Oprah, that would save big $$. Oh that's right, we need to help those poor unfortunate people....together we can.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

haha that's right, i forgot that slogan.. TOGETHER we will take care of the races and classes and professions that Deval likes and TOGETHER we will bend ourselves over and f*ck ourselves.

+1 for Barrack!! last hope!!

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

you forgot to add driving expensive cars with expensive after market parts. If this bill actually passes, watchout. Next will be the supposed saving from eliminating the quinn bill

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

You're kidding, right?

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Actually Paul, this time I am. Although, I really would like Deval to go away at this point!!

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Just saw it on Fox News at 10 again, doesn't look good at all.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Hopefully it won't fly but if it does.

They will change that shit after the massholes see they can blow by flagmen laughing cuz they don't have any authority.

As a point when it is safe to do so I aint stopping.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Well according to the news and the speech I saw, it is all a done deal that will take effect within 2-3 months.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Mass will be like Rhode Island. They go by the flaggers give them the finger, yell and scream. The flaggers in RI make about $40,000 for the construction season. There not saving money there just relocating it to their political friends.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Well, since this new plan is set to be in place within the next 2 to 3 months.. I suppose I'll immediately begin my zero tolerance, everyone gets a citation, everyone gets charged plan! There is, after all, a 2 to 3 month turn around on court time!

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Good thing you've got me for court overtime

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Does anyone know where to find the details of the bill? The MPA link is down?

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

Boston Globe:

State takes aim at police details

The state's top leaders vowed yesterday to use their combined political might to take on powerful police unions by limiting construction details, a longstanding cash cow for police officers that critics for years have called a waste of taxpayer dollars. (By Matt Viser, Boston Globe)

• Discuss What do you think about police details?

My Posting on the Globe Blog:



Message #26438.118 in response to #26438.107
Posted by kwflatbed on 9:58 AM

I just wish that everyone posting here would learn the real truth behind all of this,
if this bill should pass the only ones that would benefit from it are the overpaid,self-serving
politicians that have formed the company's to provide the flag men.
I can see it now all of their five foot tall,five foot wide kin folk who can not move out of their
own way feeding from the money trough that their self-serving politican cousins has set up.
Who is the winner here ?
Not the safety of the people of Massachusetts,only the overstuffed politician's wallets.
Do a web search and see how many times a detail officer has made an arrest, stopped
a drunk driver from killing someone.
Can your overweight flag waiver do that, details put more officers on the streets and save lives.
The politicians in this state do enough to increase taxes with the bills that they pass for welfare,
illegal immigrants,and the rest of the people to lazy to go out and get a job.
There will be no savings to the paying public if this is passed.

Re: Police Detail slashed in transportation refrom pitch

It states in today's Boston Globe that it will save municipalities money?? How so? Do you actually think Verizon/National Grid/N-Star will actually lower their rates to the townspeople? If anything municipalties will lose money they charge these companies for the administrative fee. I understand my department charges 10% on every detail and charges $50.00 per day when a cruiser is requested. I am not sure of the final figure but it ends up in the town's general fund.

It also states that they will have tier's as to when a detail is requested. Sounds to me that it will effect the local's the most. Hopefully ALL unions will get together and fight this and not have one take a back seat because they are not affected.

Went to Staples yesterday, bought a big box of black ball point pens , kept the receipt of course for next years taxes.

Eventually I think you will see municipalties hating this when they realize how much $$ they will be dishing out in court overtime for hearings. Besides citations, I will make sure "everyone will get their day in court", and apply for a hearing whenever I can.