Union news and information along with law enforcement related articles and websites
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.
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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Notices
Boston Police Peer Support Unit
The Boston Police Peer Support Unit and Critical Incident Team has proven to be a valuable resource to many officers from many agencies in addition to our own so if you or anyone you know needs assistance take advantage of this resource. You can call 617-343-5175 during business hours or our 7 days a week 24 hour a day hot-line which is 617-594-9091 and remain confidential. You do not have to tell us your name and you may ask any questions that you want in order to feel comfortable in coming forward or we can give you references to other resources. You can also call about another employee, who may not have seen emails regarding services, that you are concerned about and we will make a subtle attempt to offer them services.
The Boston Police Peer Support Unit has joined with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to create the Boston Peer Support Quiz. this is a safe, easy way to learn whether stress and depression might be affecting you. Using this service is completely voluntary and confidential. No information will be shared with the Boston Police Department. This is not an emergency response system. If you are in crisis or contemplating suicide, please call an on-call Peer Counselor immediately at 617-594-9091 or dial 911.
Do not suffer in silence,
Sgt. Joe King
Blue Line Financial LLC - Prepare for the Road Ahead.
Retirement Planning, Education Planning, Estate Planning, Insurance, Investments
As with most other things in life, the key to achieving your long-term financial objectives is planning. Your goal may be to fund your children's college education, protect your family during your working years, or guarantee your own retirement security. These things will not happen by accident. It is important to determine what you would like to achieve financially and then map out a strategy that will help you meet those goals. The good news is that it is never too late to start.
Please use our Web site as a resource, and do not hesitate to contact us for additional information or to schedule a meeting. Tom Parlon