Union news and information along with law enforcement related articles and websites

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Boston City Council to review residency requirements for city workers 

Boston.com, By Ross Cristantiello, September 18, 2024

Multiple members of Boston City Council expressed support Wednesday for examining – and potentially changing – the residency requirement that applies to city employees.

The conversation was started by Councilor Ed Flynn, who filed a hearing order this week.

“As Boston continues to rank as one of the most expensive cities to live in the United States, it is critical that we discuss whether the city’s residency requirement has impacted our ability to recruit and retain talent to ensure both public safety and the quality of life for our residents,” Flynn said in a statement. “While the residency requirement was implemented so that workers are invested in the communities they serve, the reality now is that many of our dedicated employees and working families are unable to afford nearly $1 million for a home, or to raise their families with the high cost of living.”

View the article here.

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Boston sees continued rise in officer overtime as department struggles to recruit 

Police overtime spending outpaced the department’s overtime pay budget by $33 million, or 44%, last fiscal year, which ended on June 30

Police1.com, September 16, 2024 - By Will Katcher, masslive.com

BOSTON — The Boston Police Department spent over $77 million on overtime and was on pace to top $100 million through the first three quarters of the last fiscal year.

And that was before the Boston Marathon, before the NBA Finals and before more than 1 million fans packed the city streets for the Celtics championship parade in June — all events that required significant added police presence.

Police overtime spending has become a consistent drain on city resources, outpacing their overtime pay budget by $33 million, or 44%, last fiscal year, which ended on June 30, according to the Boston City Council.

“Year after year, administration after administration has really tried to address the issues of overtime spending to no avail. It’s due time,” City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said Thursday.

Her comments came as the council heard testimony on two closely related concerns: ballooning overtime pay and the department’s sagging staffing levels as more officers continue to leave the force than join it.

View the article here.

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Boston City Council may debate residency requirement amid police staffing crunch, but BPD commissioner remains skeptical 

Boston Herald, By Gayla Cawley, August 23rd, 2024

A Boston city councilor plans to ask the Wu administration to revisit the residency requirement for police officers, and whether easing up on that long-standing policy is a “viable option” to address today’s staffing challenges at BPD.

City Councilor Ed Flynn didn’t elaborate much on what form his request would take, but said the time is ripe for a new discussion on residency in the city, where the cost of housing may be prohibitive to potential officers, particularly young recruits who would be hired at the bottom of the contractual pay scale.

Read the rest of the article here.

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Boston city councilors, mayor trade jabs over police hiring push 

Article on Union-Bulletin, By Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald 08/07/24

A measure from two Boston city councilors calling for a public discussion on how to increase police staffing levels ticked off BPD brass, and did not sit well with the mayor, who accused the councilors she often tussles with of playing politics.

The hearing order, filed by Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy for the Wednesday meeting, was met with exasperation from Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Police Department leadership, who pointed to the city’s low crime rate and the success it’s had with bringing staffing levels up in the face of national recruitment challenges that have persisted since the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

The councilors’ push was praised by the head of the city’s largest police union, however, who said that it was moving the conversation forward, and forcing the city to confront a staffing crisis that has the potential to create a “recipe for disaster,” in terms of public safety on city streets.

“We’re in a full-blown crisis,” Larry Calderone, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, the city’s largest police union, said. “That’s why you hear the Boston Police commissioner and the mayor actually coming out and saying they’re doing all they can do, because we now have some city councilors that are being extremely vocal.

View the news article here.

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Governor Healey Signs Legislation to Support First Responders Injured in the Line of Duty 

Karissa Hand, Press Secretary for Governor Healey, August 1, 2024

Boston — Governor Maura T. Healey signed into law An Act relative to disability pensions and critical incident stress management for violent crimes. This legislation ensures that first responders who are seriously injured in the line of duty can receive their full compensation until retirement. This applies to police officers, firefighters, public and municipal EMTs, and public and municipal licensed health care professionals.

“Our first responders go above and beyond to keep our communities safe and respond to emergencies. That’s why it’s critical that we support them when they experience emergencies of their own,” said Governor Healey. “This legislation ensures that first responders who are injured in the line of duty have access to the pay and health care, including mental health care, that they need to support their families and their road to recovery. I’m grateful to the Legislature for prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of our first responders and proud to sign this bill.”

“First responders always have our backs – we need to make sure we have theirs,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This legislation sends a clear message that our heroes aren’t alone when they sustain serious injuries. Massachusetts will make sure they have the resources and support needed to get through this difficult time.”

View the News Release here.

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