Police Details and the Boston Police Union

By now, you've heard about the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association (BPPA), its labor dispute with the city, and the implications for the DNC. If not, please read my previous rants, er, posts on the subject here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

I went over to the BPPA site to see their upcoming protest schedule. I found no scheduled future protests (yet), but once again saw something I didn't fully process until today. The BPPA told its members not to work voluntary overtime or paid details on certain dates, notably during the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which ended yesterday.

Paid details are private uses of uniformed police. They are mandated at construction sites on public roads and are optional for other events like big parties or outdoor fundraisers where the presence of an officer is thought to be helpful for traffic or safety. The detail officer's pay comes from the utility or the contractor or party host, who usually lets the city handle the billing and actually writes the check to the city, which of course charges a fee for the administration of the detail.

Here's the thing: paid details are the lifeblood of a union cop. Probably even closer to a cop's heart than the Quinn Bill, paid details are the benefit cops most fear losing. Periodically, some new state representative or public policy advocate will suggest doing away with the paid detail in favor of some other, more efficient, method of protecting work sites. Before being run out of town or otherwise gently persuaded to withdraw the proposal, most of these reformers are told the error of their ways. You don't challenge police unions if you want to get re-elected.

When such reform proposals come up, cops trot out their standard arguments in favor of the details. Chief among the arguments is the assertion that public safety is enhanced by the details. Paid details mean more uniformed cops on the street than would otherwise be out in public. Once in a while, a detail cop will intervene in a crime or help at an accident that occurs nearby his detail. In those instances, the union will trumpet the public good created by the detail: "Thank God Officer Kelly was standing by that Verizon truck when the drunk driver knocked over the stop sign. Otherwise, he might never have been caught."

The claim of enhanced public safety due to details is mostly bogus. And details themselves are a complete waste of everyone's money. When was the last time you saw a benefit to having a cop at a work site? Often, they just sit in their cars and read the paper. Or pace about and chat with the workers. Hell, I don't blame them. I've worked details. They're boring. Really stupifyingly, mind-killingly, zeal-crushingly boring. But cops love them. That's how they pay for their boats.

So when Thomas Nee, president of the BPPA, tells his guys to stay home from the details, it's probably a good thing overall. But he can't have it both ways. After all, union members claim they will not do anything to endanger public safety.

Either details are good for public safety, in which case the refusal to work them is detrimental, or they're not. I think not. But the union thinks they are.

By its own position, then, the BPPA is endangering public safety in this selfish, greedy, labor dispute.

Comments

[jo]

Every detail cop I ever see is chatting either with the workers (grousing about each others union woes I assume) or chatting on their cell phone (calling the marina to see when their boat can be put inthe water) I can't recall the last time I actually saw a detail cop directing traffic or in hot pursuit of some wayward criminal who happened by the detail. must be nice to be able to earn an extra 20,000 - 40,000 for dressing up in your uniform and hanging around.
All a crock of poop poo is what it is.

[carpundit]

Yes, indeed. A well-organized, entrenched, impossible-to-change crock of poop.

[mAss Backwards]

Hey, drinking coffee while staring into a hole in the road is serious multi-tasking. NOT for amateurs.

[Chris Boyd]

For some more information regarding police details and Massachusetts I encourage you to check out our new study on that very topic "Police Details in Massachusetts: Protection or Perk" at www.beaconhill.org.

[wareagle2]

Everyone settle down and have a good laugh.I kept a log at the end of my shift of 28 years of directing traffic and now it is all in my book entitled " A day in the life of a road detail police officer".Now available on Amazon.com or go directly to lulu.com and type in the title into the search space.These stories are true and un-believable.I intentionaly left out the police action for the incidents that callled for it.Enjoy !

[wareagle2]

Everyone settle down and have a good laugh.I kept a log at the end of my shift of 28 years of directing traffic and now it is all in my book entitled " A day in the life of a road detail police officer".Now available on Amazon.com or go directly to lulu.com and type in the title into the search space.These stories are true and un-believable.I intentionaly left out the police action for the incidents that called for it.Enjoy !

[wareagle2]

want to ask a detailcop a question ? then go to [email protected]

[You people are IDIOTS]

The ranting of you people are the reason that there is no respect for law enforcement.Get a clue and check your facts first befor you start sounding like a bunch of jack@#^s.

[The judge]

Excuse me? We watch you useless detail slugs sit on your ass and then when we demand it stop we are not showing you respect?

Earn it. Or better yet quit en masse and try to find work in the private sector. We won't miss you.

Remember, our goal is to have you AND your useless families out on the curb begging for scraps consistent with you contributions to are society.

Now why not come back with some useless palaver about how you "protect our freedoms". You're beyond pathetic and not very bright either.

You piece of librel crap,Your probably not even an American citizen.There is no excuse for you. The fact that having the extra police on the streets reduces the amount of crimes that would have been committed if no police are on the details. Let me remind you moron that most of them get paid by the private sector,not the tax payer.Its a jakass like you who would probably run a flagman down anyway.

[The Judge]

Exhibit A folks. First our right wing brother goes to the illegal alien argument. I'm going to have some fun with him and ask him to define "Non sequitor".

Then he gives us the argument that its all ok because private companies pay for the detail slugs. We have the highest utility rates in the nation and this bobo can't put two and two together.

Any of you ever seen a detail slug make an arrest? We've certainly driven past these slugs often enough. Ever seen one move.

Then we have the flagman argument. Bobo doesn't seem to understand that a critical element of the problem is that neither flagman nor detail slugs are needed at 85% of these jobs. Of course we might be willing to compromise in those situations where a flagman is truly needed and use a cop but these slugs want their welfare checks and want to go to great lengths to convince us that they are deserving.

Don't be fooled. Most cities and towns can easily cut the police force and you would miss nothing.

[PoliceDetailsMustEnd]

I agree that details need to end.... but HOW? How can we make them stop? We need money for a huge campaign. Who would be willing to invest in this?

[viagra online]

Can Obama suck back up to the Police Union after calling Crowley's actions stupid?
Would this be throwing the police unions under the bus?

[Ajf 6]

Your blog has inspired me. Recently, I have a strong interest in nature, about the philosophy of the soul, and I have been looking for that book! Thank you very much for your blog, give me the direction!

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If only the 350 cities and towns could find the same political will. We can break the back of the police unions here, if people don't chicken out.

[Jordan 8]

Count your age with friends but not with years. Good luck to you!!

[Jordan 1]

As with much else in the world today, the pace of progress will depend on the US –the insufficient but still indispensable power.