PAX Centurion - May / June 2013

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • May/June 2013 • Page 3 President’s Report: Thomas J. Nee, BPPA President Public perception and doing the right thing The tragedies that occurred in the wake of the Marathon bombings remind us all, how fragile life and the respect for the quality of life can be. The war against terror is far from over and at any time; we can be called to the front lines in the defense of our Homeland Security and not just for the City of Boston. Rank and file police officers from the Metro-Boston area showed the world that when you want to test our resolve, challenge our American values, our profession will rise up and regardless of equipment, training or support from our leaders, take you down. M any years from now, the memories of April 15, 2013 will still be deeply etched in our minds. Any attempt by me to recognize the many acts of selfless bravery and compassion by the members of the Public Safety Community, es- pecially the membership of the BPPA who stepped up and unlike anything ever seen before (except in a scripted movie) and did the right thing could not be justified with the English language. Even the word “thank you” though meaningful doesn’t seem enough. I’ve played on and participated on many teams in my life, but I must say that I’ve never participated on any team that I’m prouder of than the team of my chosen profession here in the City of Boston. I want you to know that your efforts didn’t go unnoticed! Whether you were fielding radio calls inWest Roxbury, at the blast site on Boylston Street or on the field of battle inWatertown your efforts were ob- served around the world. Calls poured into the BPPA from around the country recognizing a job well done! Our ex- tended family in the Law Enforcement Community as a whole gushed as I did on your job well done. To a person, everyone ended by saying; Thank you Boston and how proud they felt to be a part of the Law Enforcement Profes- sion. The tragedies that occurred in the wake of the Marathon bombings remind us all, how fragile life and the respect for the quality of life can be. The war against terror is far from over and at any time; we can be called to the front lines in the defense of our Homeland Security and not just for the City of Boston. Rank and file police officers from the Metro-Boston area showed the world that when you want to test our resolve, challenge our American values, our profession will rise up and regardless of equipment, training or support from our leaders, take you down. In the wake of that historic event I also received many calls from members who had heard rumors that the City of Boston and the Boston Police Department had contacted the BPPA and want- ed to reconcile the many issues in dispute, most significantly the outstanding, three year expired Collective BargainingAgreement. I assure you that call never happened and it was just a rumor. The many calls that I fielded usually ended with the understanding that we are a profession and a people who when called upon, step up and do the right thing regardless of risk or consequence. Some- times we make the mistake that people that lead this City and this Police Department think and act like us and prescribe to the same way of thinking. Wrong again! In the Interest Arbitration hearing that followed the week after the bombing, we were presented with kind words and praise by the City Bargaining team. Followed by; we can’t reconcile because of the “public’s perception” that Police Officers in Boston already make too much with our lucra- tive overtime and detail system. Such nonsense was met with a response from the BPPA Bargaining team that is unprintable. And so as of this writing, we have completed day 15 of Interest Arbitra- tion hearings and probably before you get a chance to read this article we will have completed day 17 with several more dates necessary to complete the process mostly due to the City dragging its feet with idle nonsense as previ- ously reported. Their arrogance, insults, disrespect and contempt for the BPPA membership is immeasurable! Public perception”? In the wake of what just happened and what was accomplished? To the City team I say; poor reasoning, poor choice of words and poor excuse! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think a Police Officer should be paid at least the same pensionable wage as a Firefighter. It’s time for the City of Boston to do the right thing and end this protracted process and honor the membership of the BPPA by awarding them the same pensionable base wage as our brothers and sisters in the Firefighting service. It’s time to move on and embrace the new challenges that face us in the Great City of Boston. In closing, I want to take this opportunity to thank some of my personal friends like NYC-PBA President Pat Lynch and his members, NY-NJ Port Authority President Paul Nunziato, NJPBA President Tony Weiners, President Ed Mullins of the NYPD-SBA and all their members who answered the call, stood shoulder to shoulder with US, sometimes just to offer advice and support. Not only were their efforts noticed, they will never be forgotten! And in special recognition and heartfelt memory of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, bombing victims Martin Richard, Lu Lingzi, Krystle Campbell , most specifically our brother from the MBTA Police Officer Richard Donohue our hopes and prayers for a speedy and full recovery, as well as the hundreds of victims still recovering. To our membership, the most current major event serves as a reminder to all, be safe out there. In Unity, there is Strength, from Our Strength, comes Our Honor.