| Author | Message | ||
     Copihue Citizen Username: Cop Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2003  |
Fprmermpd, I am glad for you that you found a good place where to work. Thank you for taking time to let us know about your impressions. I hope that we will be able to address these problems, so that we don't continue to loose good police officers. Best wishes. Pack your own chute. | ||
| Boozy the Clown Citizen Username: Boozy Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2003 |
The citizens of Maplewood can not see the forest for the trees. Why does everything have to be so difficult? Will this new contract take 3 years to "iron out"? Should we dissolve the current police force and have the county police take over? (It may ease the tax burdens of a salary increase and a new building.) Just my 2¢ | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2179 Registered: 9-2001 |
Dear Rebecca Raines, I’m sorry, but my repeated attempts keep the Hilton Branch Library on the table is not meant to hurt anyone, actually the opposite is true. I’m here to help, just call me the angel of good will. As I've said repeatedly, after signing a new contract with our officers, the new PD should be the next most important item on the TC's calendar. With that thought in mind, nobody in town has anything to gain by keeping the library where it is, that’s right, nobody! On the other hand, if the TC continues to knuckle under every time it faces a group of outspoken, self-serving residents, everyone loses, that’s right, everyone! The TC is elected to lead, to make the tough decisions, and at all times to keep the towns best interests at stake. This includes making wise choices regarding the use of the town’s property. The TC, the Goldstein Partnership, the police department, and many other residents beside myself felt the library was the right decision. And, as you also said, “Maybe that location would have been the best for the PD, it's even possible that it could have been handled to everyone's mutual benefit.” However, because some people think it's a waste of time to keep focusing on the library, and because the TC by unanimous decision took it off the list, in no way means I have too. And, trust me, I won’t… If anyone says there are other good possibilities already scoped out for the new PD, I’m willing to wait and listen to them. However, the gang at the library, and at the last township committee wanted the TC to sign in blood that the library would never, ever be considered by this TC or the next ten TC’s…. What does that tell you about where they’re coming from? If you really like the idea of a “Friends of the Police Officers”, why not do them a real favor and leave the library on the table? | ||
| Maplewoody Citizen Username: Maplewoody Post Number: 377 Registered: 5-2001 |
MOL people... the criminals are ALREADY here in MapleHood! A new neighbor, not even moved into yet was at their new home today off off Elmwood, on Sulfolk and had the headlights stolen off of their Mazda in broad daylight, around noon! Welcome to MapleHood! Attention TC, Get your asses in gear and settle the decision prontissimo on where the new Police HQ will go and start the construction NOW! PLEASE settle their contract disputes too! It's terrible anyone reading this and thinking of moving here is reading the gripes of not one, but a few MapleHood cops! | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2181 Registered: 9-2001 |
"... settle the decision prontissimo on where the new Police HQ will go and start the construction NOW! PLEASE settle their contract disputes too! Please private line me if you’re willing to join the “Friends of the Police Officers.” Thank you NRL and all the others who replied so far... | ||
| Montagnard Citizen Username: Montagnard Post Number: 250 Registered: 6-2003 |
Trying to place the Hilton Library in opposition to the police force is totally bogus. What personal interest is being hidden here? | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 127 Registered: 12-2002 |
I'd like to know how The Light can blame only Jerry and Vic when there are others on the council. Jerry and Vic cannot do things without the majority approval, correct? Sounds like sour grapes on his part. There's nothing like being on the ocean! | ||
| Former Mpd Citizen Username: Former_mpd Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2003 |
I would like to let everybody know that none of the current Police Officers are concerned about getting a new building. The two main concerns right now are money and a better schedule. Those two issues should be addressed immediately. Believe it or not Maplewood PD is the 3rd lowest paid in the county. Maplewood is behind Newark and Irvington on the pay scale but the residents have a higher property tax. Also for the record the majority of the Police Officers who have left to goto better depts. have taken approx. $10-$15,000 paycuts. I try to keep in touch with my former co-workers and THEY LOVE their new depts. Currently there are approx. 10-13 officers who have submitted their resumes to other depts. I believe this year alone Maplewood PD lost approx. 11 officers. As far as the Mayor, after he lost the election he decided to call the Police ungrateful and then stated that we were racially profiling but then made some very unsensitive remarks towards a business owner on Springfield Ave. By the way, didn't the PBA give the Chief of Police a vote of No Confidence? | ||
| marie Citizen Username: Marie Post Number: 890 Registered: 6-2001 |
Former MPD, I was wondering about the statement theLight made concerning the Chief of Police - What exactly is the issue with Chief Cimino and his relationship with his dept? What other Police Departments are our officers joining and leaving Mwood to work for? | ||
| Duncan Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 1109 Registered: 12-2001  |
I will ask again cause it just strikes me as disingenous but formerMPD what are you trying to achieve with your posts? If its an honest dialogue about the state of MPD then perhaps you might want to take some of the "scare" out of your posts. If its to gloat or cast aspersions on the department then we have folks right here already who are happy to do that. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" Wayne Gretzky | ||
| melidere Citizen Username: Melidere Post Number: 613 Registered: 5-2001 |
i'm having trouble reconciling the two contradictory statements that : 1. The two main concerns right now are money and a better schedule, and 2. Also for the record the majority of the Police Officers who have left to goto better depts. have taken approx. $10-$15,000 paycuts. That sure makes it sound like money isn't the issue. | ||
| jeffl Citizen Username: Jeffl Post Number: 209 Registered: 8-2001 |
I listened to the TC meeting that Former Mpd is referring to. Vic NEVER SAID THAT THE POLICE WERE RACIAL PROFILING! How can you possibly SO miscommunicate his statement?! He said that he was a supporter of the police, probably the biggest supporter of anyone either on the TC or running for the TC. He felt that the PBA wasn't fair to him and misrepresented his position for political reasons. I think he stated that his dad was a cop and that he was very much in tune with the needs of the police. He said that he had overheard some Maplewood cops using terms that were inappropriate for a police officer. He never called anyone racist. Glad you're gone Former Mpd. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2183 Registered: 9-2001 |
"I would like to let everybody know that none of the current Police Officers are concerned about getting a new building." Really! "NONE" of them are interested? "the majority of the Police Officers who have left to go to better departments have taken approximately $10-$15,000 pay cuts." Really? $10-$15,000 pay cuts! "Currently there are approx. 10-13 officers who have submitted their resumes to other departments." Really! You keep in touch with your former co-workers and they love their new departments, even with a $200 to $300 per week pay cut? For a former Maplewood police officer, you sure have you fingers on the pulse of all the coming and goings in the department. Where have you been up to this month before you decided to begin sharing all this information? BTW, and FWIW, IMHO, ITYFOS, and I have to give you a vote of No Confidence… | ||
| lseltzer Citizen Username: Lseltzer Post Number: 1909 Registered: 5-2001 |
I think it's also important to point out that any idiot, even me, could get a Hotmail account, create an MOL ID, and call myself a current or former MPD officer. If they're not using their real names you don't really know they are who they say they are. | ||
| Copihue Citizen Username: Cop Post Number: 122 Registered: 10-2003 |
I understand formMpd as coming from a feeling as opposed to a analytical perspective where he has dotted all the is and crossed all the ts. We have read a long list of complaints in the past from the MPD, but he is giving the issues priorities. He is saying that pay is a major conflict which has to be resolved in contract negotiations. Though pay in Mayberry is poor, that is not the only element that is important. The work schedule and attitude of the town is also important, so that a great many officers are willing to trade a pay cut for other intangibles such as the ability to be treated with respect and decent work hours. What he is not addressing are issues of career ladder, I speculate that some officers feel that there is no future for them here, so they leave for other depts where they may have a better chance of building a career. There has been a lot of discussion about disrespect, but I still don't have a clear picture of where the attitude is coming from. I think that although they are saying it comes from the town, and to me that means residents, what they really mean is probably the administration of the town. I question how effective a leader the Chief of Police is. His men are going over his head by addressing the TC and the public directly. Some officers don't appear to have much confidence in his ability to negotiate in their behalf. How many support the chief or how many do not? Why are some of the officers having such a terrible schedule? someone is benefiting from it. Who? Perhaps the officers feel he is too beholding to his bosses: the TC. I have heard that comment before. I also find formermpd's comments useful, though he is on the border of being offensive at times, because he seems to care about the MPD. I don't think that he has all the answers, but he definitely adds to creating a complete picture of what is going on, if for no other reason than to let us understand why some officers have taken the step to leave the dept. It's not fair to ask formermpd to have taken a survey of every police officer and to have polled every one to determine if they agree that these are the issues of importance to them. It is his impression that the location of the police headquarters is not as important as the pay and schedule issues. I can see that. The police headquarters may be an annoyance when they are trying to get dressed, while the schedule is an annoyance every single day. The headquarters may be more of an issue to the residents of this town than to the police dept. I noticed that the News Record had two stories about the location of the police dept this week. They formed a committee to find new suggestions, and the police dept is not represented among the stakeholders. Springfield Avenue Partnership, Hilton and College Hill Neighborhood Assn., the Planning Board, Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Advisory Committee are all represented. No complaints from the MPD about this decision. Pack your own chute. | ||
| jeffl Citizen Username: Jeffl Post Number: 211 Registered: 8-2001 |
As long as he doesn't misrepresent facts, e.g. misquoting Vic to make him sound like a cop-hater. That, to me, makes his posts suspect on all accounts. | ||
| tdurkin307 Citizen Username: Tdurkin307 Post Number: 22 Registered: 4-2002 |
Here are just some of the departments the Maplewood Police Officers have gone to in search of greener pastures. Union County Prosecutor's Office (me), Essex County Prosecutor's (4), Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Essex County Sheriff's Department (2), West Orange PD (2), East Brunswick PD (2), Piscataway PD, South Orange PD, Livingston PD, Hillside PD, Alpine PD, Franklin Township PD (1 now), Clifton PD, Warren PD, Belleville PD, Freehold PD, Bernardsville PD, Newark PD, DEA, FBI civilian, and one officer went back to his old job in NYC. In my case only! I DID NOT leave because of a new building and I DID NOT leave because of the money. I don't care about money, never did and never will. If I wanted to make a lot of money I would have chosen a different career. I left because of mis-communication and lack of appreciation! I'm an eternal optomist that had enough of the meaningless and useless BS. For almost eight years I tried to convince the other officers that things would get better and how great the potential was for our department to be one of the best to work for in the state. Of course I was bias, I had grown up here for thirty years. But I really did believe this. There's only so much someone can take, before that person has to start thinking about himself or herself. ajc, As far as I know I'm the only one that didn't take a pay cut when I left. These officer's deserve substantial pay raises. I'll never forget going to contract negotiations a couple years back and being offered 0% raises by the Township. It was like getting punched in the gut! Mental health is much more important than the dollar, hence the rampant MPD officer's flight. I only left in July and I live with another Maplewood Police Officer. I also still make weekly visits to the department, so it's safe to say I still know what's going on and nothing has changed. The grass is greener! Tim Durkin | ||
| Duncan Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 1112 Registered: 12-2001 |
Tim you always were the most sensible cop who posted/posts out here. I am glad you are happy, sorry that you left "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" Wayne Gretzky | ||
| jeffl Citizen Username: Jeffl Post Number: 212 Registered: 8-2001 |
I second Duncan's motion. | ||
| marie Citizen Username: Marie Post Number: 892 Registered: 6-2001 |
TDurkin, Thanks for the posting this info. If what we are hearing here is true, how do we help the MPD become the Department you once believed it could be? How can regular ole taxpaying, law-abiding citizens join forces with the department for the benefit of all? An aside: Many thanks to the MPD and fire Dept. for their immediate and well handled response to the horrible car crash last night on Valley St - they were professional and courteous. We really appreciate it. |
