At the same time that the borough considers disbanding the police force, it is also entering labor contract negotiations with the existing police force. Both borough council members and residents asked whether it was ethical to negotiate a new contract when disbanding the police force loomed over the heads of officers.
Attendees were hesitant to use the word "threatening" to describe the borough's position and potential to strong-arm the negotiating process. Council member Bob Wegbreit said, "Personally, I don't think the police should have this hanging over their heads" during a contract negotiation.
Is the overlapping timeline of the contract negotiations and outsourcing proposal just a coincidence?
After the NPD's pay & benefits were increased to the level of the LMPD's, it suddenly occurred to some folks that there was no longer a fiscal benefit to maintaining a local police force. So now, it sounds like Boro Council is trying to put the lid on Pandora's box. It's a shame that council didn't realize this reality before the increase. And it's regrettable that the NPD made themselves expendable by accepting the increase.
Posted by: Mike M. | April 21, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Mike, Regretfully, the NPD in my opinion has made themselves expendable by their shameful behavior. They have no one but themselves to blame. It's a shame that all have to be labeled by the behavior of a few. But it's a small force, and you know what they say about one bad apple.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 21, 2008 at 12:53 PM