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Comments
They just can't stop
They just can't stop themselves.
Glad to see this getting some attention.
I saw that police boat on Saturday, too. As it circled the WTC pier, the civilians aboard were hollering and waving at the thousands on the piers.
Me too
I saw the police boat on Friday -- looks like it was used every day for sightseeing. It was obvious it had more than officers on it. At least they had life vests on. The little Coast Guard craft were doing a bang-up job keeping everything orderly.
Don't leave out the State
Don't leave out the State Police water units, EPA, and possibly massport. For the most part, these guys did a good job of keeping everything moving safely and orderly in the crowded harbor.
It's too bad this one boat and captain puts a damper on their good job.
Did anyone get any pictures?
Did anyone get any pictures? On Flickr maybe?
Someone had to get pictures that would allow some intuitive person to start ID'ing these culprits.
Boston Police Tour Boats, Not Horses!
Now that the Mayor and Police Commissioner have disbanded the Mounted Police Unit despite overwhelming public opposition, we can get back to the elite practice of public safety through private party boating at taxpayer's expense. Bet there was some *overtime* involved, too.
This is the last sentence in
This is the last sentence in the article and it is unattributed. WBZ can be accused of being good journalists:
Says who?
Plus this hardly explains why civilians were in tow in this situation. Where they Police Explorers? Was this a PR cruise? What? Menino leaves at the feet of the Police Commissioner and he "investigates." Please stop the bullshit.
Talking about the Police Commissioner. He commissioned former US Attorney Stern to investigate BPD police procedure when the kid died in the aftermath of the Celtics victory. Has Stern delivered the report to the Commissioner and when do we get a copy?
If I were to bet who was on that boat.....
from what I have heard in the past.....is usually families of politicians, officers, city workers, comm service groups, and some human service groups and often times kids from local hospitals getting a chance to get out for the day.
That's nice, but you're
That's nice, but you're lumping together unlike things. I don't think anyone would object to the BPD taking a group of patients at DanaFarber out into the Harbor. And, indeed, the department was quick to play that card. From the official statement:
...it is not unusual for the vessel to be utilized for instances such as the Junior Police Academy, the Explorers Program or other citizens who are interested in learning how the Harbor Unit functions.
Only here's the thing. Take a look at the photograph. Those ain't Explorers. They're not cadets in the Junior Police Academy. And let me tell you, they're not on that boat to learn about how the Harbor Unit functions. They're on a junket.
When public resources - like police vehicles - are made available to serve some group, that needs to be done in an open, transparent, and equitable manner. The BPD knows damn well who was on the boat. It ought to tell us. Blowing smoke about Explorers is pathetic - what does that have to do with what happened in the Harbor last week? The BPD didn't invite sick children out on the boat to see the tall ships, it extended that opportunity to some set of politically-connected adults. Who were partying. On a boat you and I pay for. In the middle of a budget crisis. While the mayor is complaining about security costs.
It's going to turn out that these were people who knew someone in the department. Maybe relatives of officers in the unit, or friends of the brass. Maybe connected to city pols. And that they were enjoying themselves on the public dime. It's disgraceful, there's just no other word for it.
I guarentee you the BPD has no clue who was on that boat.
Like I said, it was probably families of officers, politicians, and other "important" city workers, with a mix of other human service groups. And there were a group of unlike things going on there.
Its one of those things where someone in the harbor units called people they knew to invite them on the boat, and that invitation list included that wide group of people. But there was no official list or else you could have bet they would have released that in no time.
Im not saying its right, Im just saying the BPD probably has no idea who was on the boat.
Which is exactly the problem
I feel so much safer knowing that One Schroeder Plaza has no idea who was using its equipment and to what purpose...during a budget crunch...after City Hall whined about security costs.
Really people, get over
Really people, get over yourselves . . this is not that big a deal . . did you squawk as much over the billinos of bailout $ given to private industry for bonuses, maintaining of private jets, premium ball game seats, etc - all now being funded on the tax payer dollars . . . And be honest, if you were given the chance to ride on a police boat to see the tall ships you would have jumped at it, too! This is just sour grapes, move on to something that is really offensive . . this is small time . . and even if it was a few "family" members of police, fire, etc . .who cares? - there are very few perks for city workers and yet certainly plenty of criticism - a thankless job until they save your life some day . . get over it . . .
Menino's response
Menino's response in this article made me shake my head especially after all of his "the city can't afford to pay for the entire Tall Ships event on its own" drama. Stretching the rules? How can it not be against the rules -- department, safety or otherwise? This was not kids riding in a fire truck or a police cruiser during a Fourth of July parade. What if that boat needed to be called into action for some unforseen emergency which is why it is there in the first place? Was it going to stop to drop off its guests before springing into action? I guess I'm just surprised Menino didn't take a harsher stand considering the controversy surrounding this event and that he is running for re-election. I'm guessing he thinks this will blow over without much of a problem, and he's probably right. And that last line of the article? The public paid for it but didn't pay extra for it. Um, what?
What percentage of Boston
What percentage of Boston Police being paid overtime were actually working? Menino made such a stink that there needed to be such high levels (and costly) amounts of BPD officers for the rowdy tall ship sightseers, yet when I went a large group of the police were hanging out by their motorcycles, near WTC station (not on the water) talking on their cell phones. And, it seems from the article, another contingent was on a taxpayer funded harbor cruise with their friends and family (unless it was just the sick children, but as other posters noted, they hinted that thats who COULD have been there, not who was there.
Thanks Menino.
you dont understand why police are there for things like this
They are there in case something happens, not there to "work" like directing traffic that isn't there or marching around the city like some sort of parade.
I wish someone would (if they could) get an operations plan for the police, fire and EMS for the tall ships and other large public events and you can see there is a reason for everything.
I understand exactly why
I understand exactly why police were there in such high numbers-so Menino can score some points with the union (and help his son) by giving them overtime cushy work. It used to be called kickbacks or bribes, but in Meninos land its pay to play, and if someone (except the st. patricks day parade people) want to have an event in Boston, Meninos friends need a piece, and they shant be asked to actually work.
Once there, couldn't they at least fan out and show a presence near where the masses of people were.
Please Mr. Nice, I appreciate that you cops got used to lots of overtime for nothing because the mayors son is one of you, but you can at least do a little work while you are being paid.
anon you have no clue....
first off, many of these officers were FORCED to be there. They had no choice. Many of them had the day off but were forced to work on a blackout day that they couldnt take it off. The cops dont really care about this overtime. The BPD cant even get qualified people to take the dam job! Menino loses points when officers get forced to work when they dont want to. Again, you have no clue what you are talking about. Why dont you take the civil service test and change things?
Secondly, the police union doesnt really care about Menino and Menino doesnt really care about the police union. Very overated relationship and Meninos son has nothing to do with either. Hes a detective that gets his own overtime.
thirdly, no, they can't fan out becuase in the OPERATIONS PLAN, which is drawn up by people who know how to provide secruity for these events, there is no need to "fan out officers". you must be a security expert though, so you must be right.
The police don't want to do
The police don't want to do overtime? I feel like they were recently flipping out when the details on construction sites went to flagmen. So you are saying that the police do not have any mention of guarenteed overtime in their contracts, that that is not something they fight for when are collectively bargaining, and that Boston cops are asking that the city stop asking them to do any overtime?
overtime and details are different....
There is never a right to work overtime. Never. But you have a right to be paid overtime wages if you work overtime or get forced to work when you dont want to. Its the nature of any shift job that overtime is going to be created. And its the nature of police work. If the chief says he needs X amount of officers to work X amount of hours because of public safety, he legally can force those officers to work those hours.
Im saying that when a large event happens like New years eve or the Patriots Parade, cops are forced to work. Not all cops want to work all the overtime they can get. More than you know like to work their regular shift and then go home to their families.
Details are a different story. Menino wants them because its extra cops on the street that he doesn't have to pay for, and he knows they make thousands of crime related impacts a year. Plus Menino knows the city makes money off of them (a few million in surcharges every year)
Tend to agree with this
I have a friend in the CHP, and he says pretty much the same thing that Pete Nice is saying about OT and details. And he likes OT, generally speaking because he is single and trying to save money. But just as much as he likes the extra cash, he doesn't like working parades and holidays when he'd rather be on a date or out with friends. It's part and parcel to the job. Yes, there are benefits, but there are also downsides.
The other thing to keep in mind is that we may only see the cops in the Dunkin Donuts or chatting on a cell phone during a work detail, but there are the other times on the job when they put their body on the line to serve us.
Rosy outlook
"The cops dont really care about this overtime."
Right.... keep telling yourself that. It's quite evident that police officers don't care about much else other than overtime and the money it brings them.
The "security" that was provided really about paying off an important voting block more than anything else.
franklinrider
ahh whatever. Think what you want. you have no clue.
Its just as evident that you are jelous of the cops because you make less, or couldnt become a cop because you are too scared. And I have as much evidence of that as you do.
Re:
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
Re:
It is better to be ignorant than mistaken
Very nice
I think you should stick to the Boston Herald blogs. Your comment here is part of the reason why civil servants have such a bad name these days.
the herald blogs is filled with people like you
if you can make ignorant statements with no facts, watch how easy it is for me to make the same ignorant statement with no fact.
Shorter Pete Nice
When cops do it, it's not wrong.
And if you think otherwise, you're a pussy.
I like that sock puppet
but thats not true.
Putting aside the OT/detail issue for a second...
...and I understand the ups and downs on those issues; I have friends and family on the force too. The question is Pete Nice: Do you think that it was OK to have non-police personnel and kids on the BPD boat for a Tall Ships cruise on taxpayers' dime? That can't be in the operations/security plan. Just curious what you think...
No I dont think it is right.
But the harbor patrol guys usually know to use good judgement and Im saying theres a 50% chance that there is a good explanation for who was on the boat and why they were there.
Like I said in my original point, there is probably a 50% chance that the people on that boat were cops friends, politicians friends or city workers.
Okay, so...
Pete, if it's 50% chance that the people on the boat were cops' friends, politicians' friends, or city workers...then who would be on the boat for the other 50% chance of having a good explanation?
Some royal family or guest of the state?
A community service group? Ronald McDonald house guests? fundraising people? People who have donated millions to public service projects like libraries?
These harbor patrol guys are often times funded through federal grants and whatnot. Some one from Capital hill calls John Kerry who calls Deval Patrick who calls Menino who calls Davis who calls the captain of the boat to let him know who is getting on the boat.
Bernie Madoff
Cement shoes included
Thanks for the reply Pete Nice
If it was city workers/politicians/superior officers/friends of the mayor, etc. I can see how the folks manning the boat might feel they don't have a choice, out of fear of getting reamed out by someone. But even if that was the case, it was a bad idea on everyone's part, no matter who gave the OK -- with the city in a budget mess, folks hyper-sensitive about public spending, the drama over Tall Ships security, etc. Even if my friends and family bitched at me six ways to Sunday for a ride, I would have to say to them, "Are you nuts? Have you read the papers lately?" Anyways, thanks for the reply.
Now you know
Now you know what those millions of dollars were needed for. These parties are expensive.
They were working hard at the Dunkin Donuts
On Drydock Avenue (the new one). There were no less than four motorcycle cops hanging around there during Tall Ships. Incidentally, none of the Tall Ships was docked anywhere near black falcon pier. Only the cops were 'docked' there outside the D.D.