PAX Centurion - Summer 2014

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • Summer 2014 • Page 7 Secretary’s Thoughts: Patrick M. Rose, BPPA Secretary Timing is everything – Thanks to our friends in New York and New Jersey for their generous gift of the new canteen trailer H ere we are in June, another summer approaching. Thankful- ly we are not tied up bargaining another contract for another two years, it’ll be nice to go through a summer without that worry or heartache. In my last article I raised a few issues concern- ing the City and or Department’s lack of action concerning several initiatives started last year, meant to improve overall readiness and performance of the Officers and this Department in conducting our mission. I am happy to report, that there is new dialog concerning some of those issues and I am hopeful that is just the beginning in fulfilling those objectives and bringing to fruition the previous work put forth. One of the items I was concerned about and wrote about was the lack of a canteen truck or food service vehicle to support our members when working long, arduous special assignments for hours, if not days on end.  Over the past few years, it appears more and more is expected, but the logistical plan to support the Officers working these events is sadly lacking. There is a saying that timing is everything. As some of you are now aware, the BPPAwas gifted a 24’ trailer from the NYPD PBA, NYPD Sgt’s BA and the NJ Port Author- ity PBA. Quite a few of you are already familiar with this trailer, you were fed from it for about five days and nights last year over on Boylston Street. Our friends and Union Brothers recognized our need and pitched in together to donate and pay to totally refurbish this trailer to include painting it and adding the BPPA Logo. This is an extremely generous gift, when presented to us, our NY and NJ Brothers stated “This gift is presented as payback. When NewYork and New Jersey needed help, whether after 9-11 dig- ging through rubble or in the fight to secure a decent contract, Boston and the BPPAwere there. Last year after the Marathon Bombing we came here. Whether it is a natural disaster or man-made, We are a partnership, a Brotherhood, a Union Family that have and will always respond to each other’s need.” They are correct, we might not agree on baseball teams, but we definitely will always have each other’s back! I would be remiss if I didn’t send a Special Thanks to Sgt. Detective Mike Talbot who coordinated with NewYork and New Jersey (over a six month period), to make this happen and never let it be known in those months of interaction between them. We will now join with the Boston DBS in the ability to provide some food and beverage to Of- ficers during these long assignments. With summer comes the extra assignments, the forced overtime and the long days and nights. We all know that there will never be enough help to cover all the assignments. The graduating class of 56 new recruits won’t even put a dent into the need for more officers. So buckle down and be prepared, we all know what it’s going to be like “doing more with less.” However, We will endure, We will get the job done and yes, we will once again miss precious time with our families, but We, as a Patrol Force will perform and get the job done. All I and others ask is that those within this Department that have NO IDEA what we do, go away, simply mind your own business, not ours. In the midst of working ridiculous hours and conducting the ‘King’s Business’ (so to speak) , We still have the daily battles with certain individuals or departments within the BPD that believe it is their sole function in life to screw with the uniformed force. I’ll call it ‘picking at scabs’ for the lack of a better term. One such civilian employee assigned to Headquarters in a role or function that deals with the Unions on a daily basis, recently stated that he believed his job was to “enforce the contract the way he understood it.” (He ap- parently doesn’t understand what Collective BargainedAgreement means.) Which is his way of saying that his interpretation is the only interpretation, (even though he and the depart- ment he works for are proven wrong more than not. It appears his personal mission in life is to make every Police Officer as miserable as he is). As any reader of this publication knows, I attempted to extend an ‘olive branch,’ back in January through this publication aimed specifi- cally at individuals that went nose to nose with us over the contract fight. I attempted to have us all start anew, with the new year upon us and new Leadership in the City and Department, I really believed that we could foster a new wave or cooperation and understanding. In most corners that is happening, where there were some holdouts, some people are moving on being replaced by more common sense, pragmatic personnel. This would be a great spot to congratulate Superintendent Kevin Buckley in his new role as Department Chief of Staff. Anyway, there appears to be a couple more of those ‘scab pickers,’ or holdouts left that still believe their function in life is to screw with the uniformed force instead of working together in cooperation. Another good spot to mention thank you to the Commissioner for having the ‘seeds’ to pull back a ridiculous directive authored by one of these holdovers that would have wreaked havoc on your summer and what little time off you get. Forgive me I digress, I believe the City management and the leader- ship of this Department has to move forward and break ranks with all employed personnel, Civilian or Uniformed, that believe that their sole function or job is to screw with the Uniformed Force that make up this Department and who are the ONLY reason this Department exists, it’s the Police Department, not the Lawyer’s Department, not the Political Appointee Department, it’s the Police Department, get it? Let’s try and not forget that simple fact. With the aforesaid, We, the Patrol Force, will continue to get the job done, We will follow OUR Collective BargainingAgreement. We will follow the lead and orders of our leaders, not be tugged by nose rings inserted by managers. I wish you all a safe summer, when you can, please squeak out a minute or two for your family, they are and should be number one! Be safe out there, back each other up, your number one priority is to go home to your loved ones safe and sound!