After reading in The Daily Local about a
"home invasion" robbery and sexual assault that occurred this week in West Chester, I figured the reader comments online would be terrific. Reading the comments on after headlining stories is always high in entertainment value for me. Recently, nationwide, public sector workers, police included, have come under fire. Financially, times are tough for many state and municipal governments. Employee benefits, including pay, pensions, and health care, have been criticized. Regardless of current contract agreements, some municipalities have cut benefits. Most everyday people don't lose any sleep for the cops, firefighters, and teachers whose benefits are dwindling. Everyday people think, "If I don't have benefits this good, why should they?" To an extent, they have a point. But when politics fuels municipalities' decisions at the expense of the public servant, I cry foul. When contracts are broken because it will save money that could be saved elsewhere, without violating legal agreements, I cry foul.
When the heads of government make financial decisions to save their own rear ends, at the expense of the citizens and in spite of the public servants, I cry foul.
That brings me to my point. Early this week, a terrible crime was reported to the West Chester Police. Unlike most terrible crimes in West Chester, this one was reported n by the Daily Local. After reading the print-edition, I rushed to my computer to read online reader comments. The comments were typical. One reader sarcastically commented that he was "sure they're (the cops) giving it (the investigation their all." The commenting reader was pointing to the fact that Borough Council unilaterally agreed to violate the police contract and change officer health benefits without first proving the benefits are comparable to the existing benefits. But does he really think that police officers would NOT investigate a serious crime? Would cops hold the citizens hostage because of a disagreement with the politicians? I can't believe they would. In fact, the politicians know this. They know that their police officers are professional, and that the police officers care enough to protect and serve, regardless of how Borough Council treats them. Perhaps the council takes advantage of this.
Then there are the readers who compare cops and firemen to private sector workers. These readers don't have government pensions; they can't retire after 30 years (or 25 or whatever) years of service with a "guaranteed" pension. These readers may have taken a pay-cut, or gone two or three years without a raise. But, in the end, the fact is, they also don't run into burning buildings. They don't breath noxious gasses. Their families don't worry about them being shot, stabbed or burned to death in the regular course of their duties at work. They don't have to respond to your neighbors house, when the drunk husband is holding his pregnant wife at knife-point. They don't have to wear a ballistic vest because of the inherent danger of their job. When the markets were at an all-time high, and private sector employees saw lavish raises and huge bonuses, cops and firefighters took home their two or three or four percent raise, just like they did for the last dozen years and just like they expect to do for the next dozen years. Cops and firefighters expected that the deal they signed on for would stand, regardless of what happened to the private sector. The fact is, these cops and firefighters are NOT in the private sector. Moreover, these cops and firefighters knew this when they signed on. They knew there were inherent risks. But, they also knew there were some rewards for their risk. Three percent raises, decent health-care, pensions, and the honoring of contracts are what cops and firefighters signed on for. It's what they expect. It's what they work hard for.
I ramble, but to be continued...
