ClintonMass.com - Discussion Forums

Hello Officer Paul,

Thank you for this information. I had a few questions in regards to this situation.

Is there currently only 2 officers on duty per shift, or does this just mean that now there is a possibility of 2 officers per shift? (Mathematically, 30 officers should be enough staffing for 6 to 7 officers per shift, assuming a minimum 40 hour work week, not counting vacations, sick, etc.) I don't actually know how your staffing/scheduling works, so it's possible that I am way off on this...

Also, I have never seen a request for money for a new cruiser denied at town meeting. I don't understand how/why they would not be purchased if the money was approved.

As a resident of this town, I would be concerned if public safety is being jeopardized. So, I am hoping you can clarify these points for me, as I obviously don't understand the situation completely.

Thanks.

Last edited by GS1897 (02.01.10 9:49am)

Hello Paul,
I fully support your efforts here. They the citizens should know, how these politicians run our town. Instead of fighting for what is right, they choose to fight for a certain few. I hope the citizens finally wake up after reading your post. The two officer shift is crazy, if you have a call that requires more than two officers how is that safe. I urge all that read the local papers, to read the arrest logs and court logs there you will see the work and efforts of the C.P.D. and that is not including the others programs the union supports in our town.
Though, we have had our history together Paul. I've seen both sides and understand your concerns.
The town we all call home has had lots of trouble of the years, but its never seemed to take away from the fact that we are a great small town. Because, we have some wonderful people that live and work in this town.
I would send a nice letter to the B.O.S., but I feel that my efforts would fall on deaf ears. For, I know from experience they would rather push you aside then listen to you. GOOD LUCK WITH THIS. Like I tell people that have said that "cops suck" among others things, but you guys have job to do.  Thanks Guys and Ladies for doing the job.

Last edited by fredj (02.01.10 2:39pm)

This sounds devastating.  I'm really out of the loop when it comes to how our town is run.  I will do my best to come up to speed with this and will back you up if warranted.  Your complaints sound just at this point. 
I appreciate all that your department does and I like the security you provide.

Sincerely,
Danielle

GS1897 wrote:

Thanks for the clarifications.

I can see your point on the polices cars. I am sure they take a beating. I guess I am not clear on the process of obtaining new cars. If the money for the cars is requested at town meeting, then I dont understand how this has become an issue. As I mentioned before, I've never seen a request for a new cruiser denied at the annual town meeting. Who is responsible for getting the requests on the town meeting warrant?

What was the minimum number of patrol officers working on a shift before it was reduced to 2?

Instead of being in our budget, police cruisers must be approved at Town Meeting.  If you see a cruiser(s) on the warrant, then the Town has given the okay to make the purchase.

The normal staffing number for a patrol shift in Clinton is four officers, three patrol officers and a sergeant.  In the past (until November of last year), if there was an officer out due to vacation or whatever, the patrol staff was allowed to go down to a minimum of three officers, to save money.  This was the practice for years.  If necessary, an officer was forced (ordered) to stay by the Town to maintain this level (three) of coverage.

Paul Silvester, Jr. wrote:

February 1, 2010


In May of 2009, the Town asked the members of the Clinton Police Department to open our collective bargaining agreement and make concessions to help the Town save money during these trying economic times.  We are well aware of and understand the current fiscal crisis.  Not only are our families affected by it, our job involves us in people’s lives where we see the effects of a poor economy, in very real ways, on a daily basis.

Although we had only recently completed a lengthy and difficult collective bargaining process, we agreed to sit down with the Town.  Frankly, we had numerous ideas to bring to the table.  Our only request was to have these discussions in the proper forum, as required with any collective bargaining agreement.  Unfortunately, the Town disagreed with us and rebuffed our offer.  The Town then cut our budget.  That much is public record.

What you may not know is that the Clinton Police Department has been steadily losing resources for over a decade.  During this period, we have seen dispatchers laid-off, crossing guards eliminated, and the permanent elimination of the Court Officer, D.A.R.E. Officer, and several other specialty positions that were in place for many years.  Most recently, in December of last year, a Detective’s Position was eliminated. 

Staffing levels in our thirty man department have been depleted through retirements, transfers, and unexpected death.  In the past year alone, we have lost two patrol officers and a sergeant.  The money for those salaries has been removed from our budget.

Paul,

The unprecedented cuts by the town are indeed unfortunate, take a look at my Blog and see what I wrote back in April and May.

http://www.bloodsport.us/?p=57

http://www.bloodsport.us/?p=132


Best of luck!

Joe

Last edited by Joe N. (02.05.10 10:20pm)

"The president of the police union is warning residents that recent cuts in the number of patrolmen per shift have compromised officer and public safety."

http://www.telegram.com/article/20100211/NEWS/2110722/

It is not going to be any better this upcoming fiscal year either.  All parties need to step up to the plate and think outside of the box and do things differently. 

I would hope that people would support any efforts to free up monies that can be used to keep cops and firemen on the streets, such as pursuing regionalization efforts like a regional dispatch center.

The main issue here right now is someone is going to get hurt.  Two officers on a shift is a dangerous thing.  I think almost everyone will admit that in the town if you cornered them.

For those of you who have not read the Times & Courier story, here is the link.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/clinton/town … ing-unsafe

So far, the support has been overwhelmingly positive. 

It is very much appreciated!!

Officer Silvester

dman2566 wrote:

Chew on this...

http://www.unionfacts.com/states/state.cfm?state=MA

Government Employee Unions
Each year, public sector unions cost Massachusetts residents millions of dollars by driving state budgets well beyond responsible spending.

Well,

I chewed, and didnt see any POLICE unions listed under the "major unions". What would you consider "responsible spending" as far as the Clinton Police Department goes? What is it worth for someone to work weekends,nights,holidays, at a thankless job where you have to wear body armor and a gun just to get through your 8 hours. Paul,  is it my understanding the starting salary for a police officer is less then 40K or right around there? Not too much for someone who could be killed protecting the very people who want to cut there salaries and put them in harms way by not being "responsible" themselves and funding "public safety".

Paul,

I have to agree with you that two officers on a shift is not adequate coverage for a town like Clinton. This is a problem that needs to be addressed.

It seems that the root of the problem is a lack of money in the budget to hire additional officers and pay overtime. So, the simplest solution would be to increase the police department's budget, although I am not sure where that money would come from. Do we have an idea of roughly how much money this would require?

Also, I am curious if the Massachusetts Coalition of Police have other suggestions for an equitable solution to this problem.

Mariah, that just added up to 40k........equivalent to 1 new patrolman.