PAX Centurion - March / April 2014

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • March/April 2014 • Page 7 Secretary’s Thoughts: Patrick M. Rose, BPPA Secretary As Yet Another Marathon Approaches T he anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on our City and her residents in over a century is fast approaching, (or pos- sibly here and gone by the time you read this missive). What have we done as a City, a Police Department and for that matter a Union to better prepare ourselves for the next attack? It is not if, but we all know it is when it comes! Immediately after the attack, com- mittees were formed, think tanks and groups assembled and intelli- gent, dedicated persons met with the common task of identifying our deficiencies, our ill-preparedness, our ill-equipped personnel, etc., etc. At all levels these people met with good intentions and positive attitudes so that we could identify and correct our inefficiencies or de- ficiencies, whether through training, purchasing new equipment, as- signing additional personnel, setting up new assignments or exercise drills and more training. I was lucky enough to be directly involved in some of these studies, meetings and endeavors. Sadly, I report to you a year later, that I am still awaiting the deliv- ery of the new bullet-resistant vest and outer carrier to be issued that were researched as never before; tested, (wear-tested, field-tested and range fire-tested), to a better standard than any federal agency could have, but here we are a year later still waiting. No outer carriers, no new comfort friendly vests (thus insuring more personnel wearing them), as a matter of fact why was central supply allowed to tie up the next two years worth of vest money on what the committee felt is an inferior product?! So much for legitimacy! We are still awaiting the purchase, training and issue of a pa- trol rifle to protect our citizenry and officers alike against serious and legitimate daily threats, why? I have no idea, the Community wants them, the officers want them, we even had to convince our own Union that they are a necessary tool in this day and age. Again researched, tested, intelligent and informed groups put together to develop plans to train, field, service and safeguard these weapon systems and still no weapons. How about a simple but very effective and life-saving first aid kit to be issued to and carried by every sworn uniformed Officer consisting of a CAT (combat action tourniquet) along with HECOM or CHITO gauze, some med tape, scissors and a bandage wrapped up in a belt carried pouch. A very inexpensive simple life saving, limb saving kit that was researched, developed, recommended, tested etc. etc., duh where is it?A ballistic helmet issued toALL Police Officers, for crying out loud you can get them from the Feds for NOTHING in surplus, but no, we still have ineffective poorly fitted non-ballistic hel- mets that cannot even be worn with our issued gas masks; which are another joke that I’ve been complaining about, apparently falling on deaf ears for years. We were going to buy a couple of self contained food trucks or trailers (canteen trucks) to ensure our Officers were not left out on some desolate outpost without food or water, once again! We were going to outfit SUVs in every District andAREA with extra magazines of ammo, radio batteries, shields, water, life saving equip- ment and telephone charging systems, don’t see them! I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. I realize there is a new administration, but the Commissioner and Chief were two of the biggest proponents of and driving forces be- hind some, if not most, of the aforesaid initiatives. The City however, won’t even pay for a $2.00 pin to issue Police Officers to commemo- rate the Marathon events of 2013, the Unions have to pay, unbeliev- able! Mr. Mayor, I know you are new at this, I get the fact that you have only been in the seat for three months, but you better figure out who you’re taking advice from because you’re missing a lot in the public safety field.Your advisors are ignoring the work and effort that has been put together previously by many qualified people, identifying and putting plans into place to acquire new equipment and develop initiatives into this force to get us back into the game of Protecting the City of Boston, her Citizens and Officers alike in this new millennium against the new terrorists threats and actions! Are our Officers to be left to their own devices to protect each other, to protect the Citizens of this City? I know many Officers that have taken it upon themselves to spend money out of their own pockets to provide themselves needed items to properly perform their jobs as professional Police Officers and be prepared to assist those in need, but it is not our responsibility to purchase and supply these needed items, it is the City’s. Many Officers spend their own time and money to travel to and from training sites not supported by this City or Department. I under- stand politics and know it’s a hot button, politically correct position to purchase, train and issue Naloxone aka ‘NARCAN’ to Officers to carry that they will most likely Never use, I’m sure it has a better sound bite with the MEDIA than a belt carried First Aid Kit, but I ask, where are our priorities?  How about the UASI grant money??A reported $17.5 million or so (upped 60% after the Marathon), where the hell is it?! Greater Boston to include the eight surrounding cities and towns were granted a windfall, where’s the money homeland security provided for all of these initiatives? I know Fire had a wish list and H&H had a wish list, what hap- pened to ours? Just some food for thought, maybe you, your advi- sors and others just aren’t aware of what was and is in play?! These comments are not sour grapes, they are made in an honest attempt to move things along at better than a snail’s pace or dust them off and get them going! A lot can be lost in transition, please don’t allow the hard work, effort and true desire to perform better go by the wayside. We, the Police Officers, really do care about this City and her citi- zenry, but we also know what it takes to get the job done! Speaking of getting the job done; It’s no secret there is a lot to do and you have a lot on your plate, but please don’t let the valid work that came prior to your administration moving in, go to waste. Mr. Mayor you showed the foresight to appoint Councilor Felix G. Arroyo as your Chief of Health & Human Services, one of the most critical and important positions within this City. Now is the time to build on that appointment and transition him to the Commissioner of Health & Human Services and make your ‘World Renowned’ Ambulance Service into a true third Public Safety organization, which we all know it truly is. This service which provides care to the city’s most needy and desperate is and should be recognized as the Public SafetyAsset that it is! This agency is there, along side of the Police and Fire at every catastrophic event and emergency, it should be managed directly by your Commissioner of Health & Human Services. Mr. Arroyo could hit the ground running as Commissioner by setting up the agency with the existing command structure already See Secretary on page 14