You don't know the half of it. SPD will decrease in manpower by 10% this month. Between retirements, promotions, and 6 people leaving to go to other agencies, the road patrol will be 8 people short. Salisbury, you only think you have problems now. Ireton has allowed your police department to be reduced to some ineffective, third rate security force. Oh, and they just gave away a huge amount of overtime work for it's officers by letting the State Police take all overtime assignments at the Mall. So now he won't even let them work overtime assignments paid for by the Center at Salisbury. Yes, no cost of living adjustment, no raise for who knows how long, take away their overtime, increase the amount they pay for employee health insurance which equates to a pay CUT, and surrounding agencies paying a lot more? I'd say your executive branch needs replacing. Maybe some of his administration too.
Now our police know how it feels to be a city employee outside of the police department. Welcome. Now maybe if ALL city employees would team up we could actually make the city a better place to work for EVERYBODY.
ReplyDelete"So now he won't even let them work overtime assignments"
ReplyDeleteWho is he?
Leadership is lacking in the SPD, starting with the "new" chief. Little wonder that trained officers are leaving. It is more than just the above-mentioned issues!!! Things were much better when Ivan Barkley was temporarily in command.
ReplyDeleteSo no overtime, no cost of living increase (what's that? ) and no raises for who knows how long and their costs for health care have gone up. Sounds like the private sector to me. Why should my taxes be raised so they can live better than I do? I'm not saying these folks do or don't deserve these things, but the people paying for it aren't getting that stuff either.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he is counting on Obama'silitis to help out.
ReplyDelete7:23 AM - Seems to me "he" would be Jim Beau the Mayor.
ReplyDelete6:14 AM - You've got the right idea.
What happened to the bicycle patrol they were planning?
ReplyDeleteThey had a bike patrol officer at the city council meeting last Monday. The council also passed an ordinance to allow off duty officers to perform security duties for mall/events, with the chief being allowed to authorize.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt the internal head hunting has something to do with the exodus from SPD
ReplyDeleteSPD starts at 36k a year roughly while Berlin only starts at 30k a year. ECI starts at close to 37k for entry level guard.
ReplyDeleteA more creative solution would be to dissolve the SPD and turn responsibility over to the Sheriff's department. Sussex Count, DE gets by with only the State Police. What's so special about Salisbury other than higher taxes?
ReplyDeleteWas it not the teacher fault not long ago for wanting their respective pay as well? I believe most of YOU commenters said well who chose your profession. Well now the shoe is on the other foot, "who told these guys to work at SPD?" No one is getting raises do why do they deserve one when crime is not any better?
ReplyDeleteAt least you have a job.
ReplyDeleteThe turnover at SPD has only just only just begun. They do not care about their officers, hence officers are leaving. It's not necessarily about the money, it's more about the lack of respect for their officers. Hopefully they will make changes for the better sooner rather then later.
ReplyDeleteThe police department was actually the last department to get raises! Tilghman gave them 12% across the board while the rest of the city workers got nothing. She said, "we'll give them raises next year" and next year has never come.
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean there will be Eight more parking places free at dunkin dough nuts?
ReplyDelete$36K Year starting salary is a livable wage for Salisbury if there are some automatic built in raises for those that deserve them. I just cannot believe what is happening to my old little town. Come back Frank Morris and his ilk. What happened to all the leaders that were around back in those days. Many came up thru the Jaycee ranks which is not the same either. What a shame
ReplyDelete