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I have been on the "old" threads with the now deceased Clamboy agreeing with the "financial" discussion that lowering salaries an arbitrary 10k, etc, or capping OT, etc, would not result in fewer qualified SCPD folks, etc...and I agree based on the financial debate...but, you can not begrudge anybody for working to maximize their income within the rules that are currently allowed. We would ALL do this. Your ATM analogy is basically comparing stealing to a union member doing what is allowed in their contract. Misdirected comparisons like that will derail your financial points.
When you reference some seemingly arrogant (or smart according to some) cop on a message board bragging about his income, etc, it does not further your argument, it stokes the flames of those that feel you are more subjective/agenda-driven that seemingly objective and taking a stance from a purely financial standpoint. The poster you referenced is not some smoking gun. The discussion is best suited for a Tax PAC around contract negotiation time, and should be based on concerns of local tax costs, etc. If you go off on too many subjective rants you risk sounding just like the union leadership who claims any "give back" will result in Long Island turning into a war zone. It is with the tone and seemingly off-base comparisons that the more objective debate gets lost.
As always, just one guys opinion.
JRP
Excellent point and you are correct, I probably shouldn't have posted that quote. It just rubbed me the wrong way and I wanted to see if it had the same effect on others.
I do not really have a problem with SCPD and NCPD making the money that they do. What irks me is that many Village police departments contracts call for them to get the same as Suffolk County. Basically, they are parking ticket writers.
I do not really have a problem with SCPD and NCPD making the money that they do. What irks me is that many Village police departments contracts call for them to get the same as Suffolk County. Basically, they are parking ticket writers.
I agree, I don't think the salaries for the ncpd and scpd are out of hand. I do think it should take more than 7 years to reach top pay though.
What is out of hand is the benefits the ncpd and scpd get. They work many hours less than the NYPD, get to bank vacation and sick leave and take the payout at retirement, free medical care for the rest of their lives, and a pension that can be artificially inflated due to a crappy pension system. Lets not forget the other benefits to being a cop - lower car insurance rates, never getting a ticket, getting yourself out of mistakes you may make, etc.
I agree, we need to pay our police well. But we also need to keep tax spending in check, and when the median HOUSEHOLD income in nassau county is 80k, and the average 1 cop makes 125k (with all of the benefits), there's a major disconnect.
Your complaining that the police salaries on Long Island is forcing people out of here. I'm telling you that is not the case. Your not listening again.
High civil service compensation packages ARE part of the reason that the cost of living on LI is so high.
In the past I hjad read LI cops were the highest paid in the country, not just in comparison with NYC. I myself think the average salary of $100,000 is too high. This has to do with the laws of supply and demand. If the average salary was $80,000, they would still be able to fill the positions.
In the past I hjad read LI cops were the highest paid in the country, not just in comparison with NYC. I myself think the average salary of $100,000 is too high. This has to do with the laws of supply and demand. If the average salary was $80,000, they would still be able to fill the positions.
They would still be able to fill the positions if the salary was $60K, especially considering that you only need a HS diploma.
They would still be able to fill the positions if the salary was $60K, especially considering that you only need a HS diploma.
The current salary structure is fair for a cop with 15 years on the job - not after 7 years.
But the real problem isn't the salaries. It's the salaries given the other aspects of police compensation:
1) NCPD and SCPD don't work nearly as many hours as NYPD. If the # of regular (non-OT) hours increased, we'd save a bundle.
2) LI cops pensions are calculated as the average of the final 3 years of service. Most of the LI cops work as much overtime as possible in order to inflate their pension right before retirement. They work their butts off for 3 years (getting fed overtime whether necessary or not) and collect a massive paycheck for the rest of their lives for doing nothing.
3) LI cops do not contribute 1 penny to their healthcare. This is costing the county an arm and a leg.
4) LI cops accrue vacation and sick time over the life of their careers, and receive a nice payout upon retirement. What other profession affords something like this? I can accrue vacation, but not sick time, that's just ludicrous.
5) LI cops have job security like none of us on the private sector will ever have. That has got to be worth something, no?
When the whole picture is painted, not even those posting here with an agenda can disagree that things are just a little (haha) out of whack.
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