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Post by chris on May 27, 2009 18:25:21 GMT -5
Wow ...congratulations on the 32 years. I'm sure you had plenty stories to tell. Thank you for responding. (I'll make sure I behave......not) ;D
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Post by bobbbiez on May 29, 2009 0:52:06 GMT -5
Corner, you are probably right that the overtime goes to the senior officers to help boost their retirement but I'm sure the younger guys won't complain because they know their time will come to, and why shouldn't the seniors be on top of the list for overtime? They're still out there doing the job. If I'm not mistaken, in most union jobs priority for overtime does go by seniority.
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Post by Ralph on May 29, 2009 2:53:17 GMT -5
The sad part is Corner is right. The worst part is that as our city grows smaller, the departments not only remain the same size, they grow "brass" like dandelions on the front lawn. So not only are the guys that get overtime senior, but the most expensive as well. When it costs us more to support those that have retired than it does for those directly on the payroll it is time to step back and rethink all this.
Meola needs to get out, how he has managed to push all his past into a corner and get this far....God only knows. And now he wants to be in charge of the City's finances? God help us all!
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Post by bobbbiez on May 29, 2009 14:17:35 GMT -5
Ralph, as you well know our city may be smaller in population but the crime rate sure as hell isn't and the fires intentionally started continue on in an alarming rate. That is why the public has cried out for and received more men in both the UPD and the UFD. Rightfully so if we want a much safer place to live. Plus, in the past we had far too many applying for positions in both departments but not that way now. Both departments are out there advertising for new recruits. Seems no one wants the jobs any more. Think, maybe the streets are too dangerous now? Sure as hell ain't like the good old days. Working with Fire Chief Russ Brooks through my group I know the high volume of calls our firemen are going out on especially in the target areas in the city. They are alarming and a danger to all in those areas, especially to the men and women who are there fighting the fires. I just attended the annual police awards ceremony and I was even shocked to hear the details about the awards passed out to our officers which the general public doesn't get to hear about. Sure the public reads the police blotters in the paper but the calls printed don't give all the details. Almost every single award given out, even down to a simple traffic stop, produced concealed weapons from sawed-off shotguns to hand guns taken off our streets by the arresting officers without hesitation in fearing for their own lives. Sure as hell ain't the same as the good old days. If the senior officers in both departments is given the overtime I know they are out there working the streets and facing the dangers that most of us do not want to deal with and to me as a taxpayer that money is well worth our safety. As far as I'm concerned their years of devotion in keeping us safe has been well "earned." ps: Good to see ya the other night. As always, Vinny and I enjoyed sharing a cup of delicious java with ya. Now, here's hoping I can get my dupa to camp and stay there and enjoy for a little while before the next meeting or activity.
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Post by bobbbiez on May 29, 2009 14:19:56 GMT -5
Don't think we'll have to worry about Meola. I'm pretty sure he'll be out.
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Post by Ralph on May 30, 2009 2:52:58 GMT -5
I'll agree with a lot of what you are saying BZ, but the fact is that a lot of senior people are not "out there on the streets facing the dangers, etc".
They are most times behind a desk, the last on the scene only to investigate or riding an ambulance.....far from being the front line of defense as some may seem think.
I am not in anyway trying to demean them or the job they do, nor the service they have given in the past or dangers faced. But a good portion of them are only fattening their retirement benefits at our expense. These are the ones we could do without.
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Post by corner on May 30, 2009 6:25:17 GMT -5
that pos frank suppa at the fire dept comes to mind now on forced retirement because of his personal antics the only blessing i see is now that he is retired his ex wife who he used to beast the crap out of will enjoy a substantial chunk of his retirement stipend that he boosted to obscene extremes while double dipping as fire chief and codes dept head ;under julian
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Post by corner on May 30, 2009 6:30:38 GMT -5
Wow ...congratulations on the 32 years. I'm sure you had plenty stories to tell. Thank you for responding. (I'll make sure I behave......not) ;D i have stories that will either curl or straiten your hair some funny some sad some scary. i have seen the worst human behavior and sometimes even the best...like the former parolee who saw me t boned on my motor cycle in july of 06 came to my assistance told the upd i was prob ably carrying a gun made sure my bike got towed back to my dealer and showed up at the hospital while i was awaiting surgery to put the various pieces of my leg together....and said he was glad he could return the favor cause my riding him under my supervision kept him off of drugs and froom returning to prisonsaid every time he felt weak and could relapse heard my voice screaming at him etc
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