| Author | Message | ||
     thelight Citizen Username: Thelight Post Number: 99 Registered: 8-2001 |
Just when you thought that the Maplewood Township Committee had expended their complete disrespect for the Police Officers in Town, along comes B/A Michelle Meade and her Cronies, and basically takes a "dump" in our faces! You people will be interested to know that for the THIRD time in the past two months, The T/C has cancelled yet ANOTHER meeting between the Township and the Local PBA (Maplewood Police Officers). It seems that Michelle Meade has no intention to settle our new labor Contract, yet every intention to prolong its settlement until the new regime takes over at Town Hall. We (The Police) are not happy! we will no longer be taken advantage of, and risk our lives for a Township, whose rank and file, don't hold out even the slightest degree of respect for us. Expect to see a big change, and I don't think it will be for the better. More Officers will be leaving the Department soon. The new building we were promised didn't pan out, and now to add insult to injury, the Township does not want to settle our labor contract with us! How much more are we expected to stand for? The Township is in for a rude awakening. I am embarrassed to be a Maplewood Police Officer, The Light. | ||
| wharfrat Citizen Username: Wharfrat Post Number: 840 Registered: 6-2001 |
Light, I wonder if you are also just as embarrassed by the police car that drove by a rather large altercation on Parker Ave., today, at about 4 pm? At least 15 teens were violently pushing one another in front of the church near Burr Rd when a police car drove by them, heading west bound on Parker Ave. It appears he didn't even slow down to see what was unfolding in front of him. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2141 Registered: 5-2001 |
What do you suggest the town do about the concerns you listed above? Please be specific. You never know who might be reading this board. | ||
| Dr. Winston O'Boogie Citizen Username: Casey Post Number: 282 Registered: 8-2003  |
All I know is, if a lame duck TC negotiated a raise for the cops, there'd be furious howling and fussing among taxpayers - and let's face it, they've been lame ducks since June. Frankly, it would be irresponsible for them to try to settle this contract before the new council members take their seats. If the police get raises, I would hope it would be retroactive to the expiration date of their last contract, so the delay won't cost them any money. | ||
| Copihue Citizen Username: Cop Post Number: 108 Registered: 10-2003  |
I agree with Dr. O'Boogie on this one. If the TC negotiated a contract, they would be criticized no matter what they did. Thelight, when you talk about the "rank-and-file", who are you talking about? I am clueless. Who isn't appreciating you risking your life according to you? Pack your own chute. | ||
| thelight Citizen Username: Thelight Post Number: 100 Registered: 8-2001 |
To wharfrat, It seems that of late, many youngsters have been engaging in "play fighting", they stage public displays of violent looking clashes that are intended to cause a rise in onlookers, see, it works, look how concerned it made you. They also like to test the response time of the Police in a certain area of Town at certain times of the day. Perhaps the Police Officers that "drove by" that group, were just a slight bit disheartened with the way the Township Committee has been treating the Police Officers in Town. Expect a change, we will not be taking the complete lack of respect aimed at us very much longer. Thank You, The Light. | ||
| thelight Citizen Username: Thelight Post Number: 101 Registered: 8-2001 |
Rank and file=Township Committee/Michell Meade T/Y, T/L. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2142 Registered: 5-2001 |
Dr. O'Boogie: Why shouldn't the present TC be able to negotiate a police contract, determine the location for the police station, or make any other important decision facing the community? We hold an election for TC member(s) every year. By your logic, we could be in the position of having at least one lame duck TC member for six months of every year. How can the TC function if it is not supposed to make any major decisions during the last half of every session because one or more of its members may not be returning for the following session? The current members of the TC will all remain in office at least until the end of December. Let's permit them to do their jobs and support them fully in their endeavors for the full time they remain in office. | ||
| kss Citizen Username: Kss Post Number: 58 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm really shocked that a police officer would suggest that his fellow cops might drive by a situation because of problems with the township committee. I would hope that a member of the department would ALWAYS deal with a crime in progress promptly no matter the contract/building status. There are other ways to protest that would not put people's safety at risk so blatently. In addition, in this case, although one car may have driven by, I do know that a few cars did show up after that although I'm not sure how quickly. Living on Parker, the police have always responded fairly promptly when we've called in situations like the one mentioned. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 167 Registered: 3-2003 |
Thelight highlights two major Quality of Life issues for Maplewood and immediately the opiners intellectualize about resolving the pay issue. The real issues are respect for the police and public safety. The elected and appointed officials have poorly served us and the police, a key, vital Maplewood institution for years. Try morale, which has been slipping for over two plus years. Not a new issue, it has been commented on from time to time on this board. Among others we depend on them to keep Maplewood the way we left it at 6:30 am, safe and sound during the day so that it is the same when we get off the train at 7pm. RESPECT It's obvious that alot is happening during the day and it's obvious that morale and dissatisfaction is rampart in our police force. Pay is a lessor factor in morale and job satisfaction. Respect and support by the elected and appointed officials and the community are the highest factors. The police aren't getting that support in any meaningful way, except from the Township which is negative and demeaning. PUBLIC SAFETY The comments about the kids fighting are telling and disturbing. Was it make-believe- to make fun of the police, was it gang related - and if it was, it would be covered up, or was it a deliberate oversight by a policeman who had had enough? While you are at work, think carefully about this issue and if it should be an immediate priority for our Township. If so call your committee people and tell them this issue needs resolution, and do not listen to their excuses. | ||
| DrFalomar Citizen Username: Drfalomar Post Number: 85 Registered: 7-2003 |
I can understand the Light's frustration, but I don't see why he's complaining now. The PBA threw its support wholeheartedly behind Profeta's crew right before the primary. It will be interesting to see how he pays the PBA back once he's in total control of the tc in six weeks. If he doesn't, boy, will the PBA have a huge beef. Either way, we'll find exactly what type of man Profeta is: one who sells himself for the support of a special interest, or one who backstabs those who supported him. | ||
| Copihue Citizen Username: Cop Post Number: 111 Registered: 10-2003 |
There are sixty officers in the police dept in Maplewood, and we only hear from three that I know of: Officer Friendly, TheLight and Reflective. I have spoken to individual police officers on occassions, I asked about the contract negotiations to one recently, and this police officer who I spoke to rolled his eyes when I asked about the police union. Either he was lying to me, or these three police officers do not speak for everybody. I certainly hope that they don't. Threats like the one posted on this line, bother me, they don't elicit my sympathies. There are plenty of young people who would like to take your place. If you are so dissatisfied, please explain what the problems that you perceive are in detail. I have no clue if your claims are legitimate or not. The performance at the TC meeting months back stunned me. I worked for the state for twenty six years, and I was asked by my boss to take my lapel button for my favorite candidate out of my office bulleting board. You are police officers, and you don't respect the rules. REading in the papers that one of your officers was arrested for pedling drugs, also doesn't inspire confidence in me. Your contempt for the Police Chief and TC is only confirms the poor image I am begining to get of the Maplewood Police Department. I don't think that I have a poor attitude toward police officers, quite the opposite. I wanted your headquarters in my backyard, I want to feel safe, but I am not comforted when you do the things you are doing as of late. Pack your own chute. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 176 Registered: 9-2003  |
So, what was the upshot of the "play fighting?" Living near Parker on Warren, I'm interested. | ||
| Copihue Citizen Username: Cop Post Number: 112 Registered: 10-2003 |
I would like to see an investigative report on these problems from our town newspaper. What are the issues being negotiated in the current contract? how far apart are the two sides on the issues? what has caused the morale problems over the past two years? why hasn't the town been able to reach an agreement? what is the point of view from each side? The only ones who speak about the problems are these three police officers. At least they are trying to communicate with us. I find these problems disconcerting and believe that it reflects poorly on all those involved: TC, police officers and town newspaper. Pack your own chute. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 169 Registered: 3-2003 |
copihue Two police officers, perhaps. I am not one, just a resident who leaves at 6:30am and returns at 7 pm. And who depends on the police to do their job well during the day. Good luck on the getting the NR to do any informative reporting on this topic. | ||
| marie Citizen Username: Marie Post Number: 889 Registered: 6-2001 |
Thelight, I've heard it rumored that the MPD is planning a cut back/and or strike? Is there any validity to this rumor? BTW - Thank You for putting your life on line today, and tomorrow and the day after that - Please let us know how we the community, can help the MPD. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2146 Registered: 5-2001 |
Copihue: There are three regular posters on MOL who have identified themselves as members of the Maplewood Police force. Reflective is not one of them. Speak with most Maplewood Police Officers and whether or not they actively support the PBA they will tell you that there is need for change in the way the town treats the members of the MPD. In fact, our police officers do not get the respect they deserve from the town. The present policy of fixed tours, which I have heard is being changed, makes it very hard for the MPD to hold on to its officers, with or without a pay raise and the police station building is totally inadequate for the use to which it is being put. All of this aside, it is obvious from his/her posts that The Light is pressing for a new contract and for a pay raise for the police officers who arre covered by the union. His/her posts should be read with that in mind but, what is also obvious from The Light's posts on other threads is that he/she is a dedicated police officer who really cares about this town and about working to develop a police force which can continue to serve the town well. | ||
| Copihue Citizen Username: Cop Post Number: 115 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thank you, Joan, for begining to clear the picture. What are fixed tours? Why did the morale plummet two years ago? How many police officers do we have per resident, and how many do neighboring towns have? how much are they paid, and how much are neighboring towns pay them? Where do they suggest that they put the police headquarters? of the sixty officers, what does the distribution of length of service look like? is this the norm? if not, why not? It seems to me that since I moved to Mayberry in 1995, I have been seeing mostly rookie cops, but then again, I thought we had about 20 officers, because I have seen about that many different faces. Is my impression correct that we have a very young force? if so, why do they think that is so? is that good? bad? neither? Is it possible policemen are leaving because we pick them up at coolie wages and as soon as they get experience they can do someplace else and get much more for their service? Could that be part of the reason why we have a high turnover? What does respect mean to them? operationally define it. Why do they think that the TC has neglected them? What suggestion do they have to ameliorate the situation? What else would help us understand the situation? Pack your own chute. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2150 Registered: 5-2001 |
Copihue: Fixed tours means that the officers work the same hours per day and days per week all the time. The officers with the least seniority often find themselves working every weekend. If they are married and their spouses work normal Monday through Friday jobs and their kids are in school during the week, they seldom get to see their families. Even the more senior officers agree that this is unfair. I have been told that the town is now looking into rotating shifts which would mean that the officers would vary the the days and hours they worked based on a schedule which would distribute the less popular shift time more equitably. On morale: It is my impression that there have been morale problems in the MPD for a lot longer than two years. Some of the problems go back to the Police Chief/Police Director debacle. When The Light speaks of the past two years, he is probably speaking of the approximate amount of time which has passed since our present Town Administrator was hired. This may also be the length of time that the MPD has been negotiating with the town for a new contract but I am not sure about that. On respect: Recently our police officers became very upset because another jurisdiction wanted to honor several of our officers for the exceptional job they did when our own town officials hadn't had an award ceremony for our police officers in several years and finally planned one only after the other jurisdiction's ceremony was announced. This did not go over well with our officers. On number of officers: You probably saw only about 20 of our officers because of the fixed shifts issue. It is unlikely that you would see all the officers unless you were going about town 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. On youth: A young police force is an advantage in many ways but an inexperienced force is not. It is also expensive to keep training officers only to lose them once they become experienced enough to function with some degree of independence. Another related issue is the number of native Maplewoodians who have left the force in recent years. Their rapport with the town's youth and their knowledge of the community is not something which can be picked up at the police academy. I can't answer your other questions but if you are really interested in looking into this kind of information in more detail, you might consider volunteering to serve on the Public Safety Subcommittee of the CBAC (check Official Maplewood for more information on this) if there are positions still available. Sign-ups were held this past Wednesday evening for CBAC and its subcommittees but it wouldn't hurt to contact George if you are interested. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 173 Registered: 3-2003 |
Joan thanks for helping straighten COPihue out on the three police person posters. (I just looked at copihue's persona and maybe he is a COP also). Joan your comments are right on target. COP: The police dept is 24 X 7, 20 officers? You have been here since 1995 and see mostly rookies? You should get involved. How join the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, specifically, the safety committee and after interviewing the police and fire chief on their budgets you will begin to understand the complexity facing our town. You will come out knowing far more than some novice reporter fromn the NR. |
