BREAK THE BOSTON POLICE MONOPOLY

  • FREE THE DETAILS

    Free security and construction details for the people. The BPPA contract has a monopoly on detail work preventing civilians from taking on these jobs paid by private companies.

  • CUT AND CAP OVERTIME

    Year after year the city has said they cannot actually rein in overtime spending because of the police contract. The contract has overtime baked in as a perk.

  • DECREASE POLICE BUDGET

    For many years the city has claimed it cannot cut the police budget because of the contract. Now is the time to deliver these changes and ensure the contract overall DECREASES police spending

Free the Details

In addition to their own salaries as city employees, Boston Police officers work privately paid details. The BPPA contract has centralized and locked in details to only be performed by BPD - so even though Massachusetts was the last state to legalize civilian construction flaggers, BPD has maintained the monopoly on these jobs.

Contract Definition: “A paid detail is a police service performed by a full-time sworn Boston Police officer during his off-duty time which is paid for by the person or persons making the request for such service and which is related in any way to the performance of police duties such as, but not limited to, security or traffic control, whether performed in uniform or in plainclothes.”

These are essentially jobs on top of their regular jobs and on top of overtime, that are only sanctioned for BPD. Boston Police officers have complained frequently in the media and city hearings about having too many responsibilities, but have consistently organized against these changes. Most recently, about 200 BPPA members attended a city council hearing on civilian construction jobs, and the BPPA president hijacked public testimony, causing the council to adjourn temporarily.

This monopoly has continued to be an issue across Massachusetts, even though the state level law started in 2008. Just months after, “dozens of police officers disrupted the work of a road maintenance crew, heckling civilian flaggers at a construction site in Woburn on the first day that the policy took effect.”

Patrick vows to replace many police details (capecodtimes.com)

IMAGINE IF WE CREATED NEW JOBS FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION AND POLICING

BPPA turned out approximately 200 officers to oppose civilian construction details. BPPA president Larry Calderone, hijacked the public testimony going on for about 20 minutes (instead of 2-3) and the council had to adjourn the hearing.

IT’S NOT JUST CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

You may have heard Boston Police officer complain about having to staff so many events, from protests or Open Streets and Fenway. In reality, many community members would prefer to handle their own safety needs without the police. But security details are also required to go through the BPPA.

Cut and Cap Overtime

What can we say about Boston Police overtime that hasn’t already been said? While overtime spending has garnered concern for many years from many people, as a coalition, we are concerned with all of BPD’s spending. But the police contract is a significant opportunity for the city to finally deliver on cuts to overtime.

Lauren Chambers, while at ACLUM, produced much needed analysis of BPD overtime. The BPPA contract stipulates how overtime works, but Lauren made this easier for all of us to understand. BPD on the other hand, has avoided explaining their minimum staffing levels, which is one foundation for overtime.

If you’ve wondered why BPD consistently spends over its budget, when other departments don’t, it’s because of the interpretation of Section 42 of the Boston City Charter, which only allows spending over the appropriated budget in emergencies. It’s also in the Mayor’s power to clarify why this gives a blank check for BPD overtime and what constitutes an emergency.

HIRING MORE OFFICERS ≠ REDUCED OVERTIME

Though as a city councilor and a mayoral candidate, Michelle Wu campaigned on reducing the police budget, as Mayor she has hidden behind the police contract as the main barrier to doing so. She has even vetoed City Council’s overtime reductions during budgeting. While the police contract is a big barrier, the Mayor is the one with the power to change this!

For years, community members have demanded that Boston move money from policing to the people. In 2020, elected officials clamored to verbally support these demands, but have all failed to deliver on them. Though as a councilor, Michelle Wu, supported moving from BPD and even voted no on Mayor Walsh and Mayor Janey’s budgets, as Mayor she has increased BPD’s budget.

Her main defense in vetoing City Council’s changes to the BPD budget are the contract - so this is the perfect opportunity for her to deliver on this. It is also the City Council’s responsibility to scrutinize how the contract impacts the budget, and make the final decision on it. 

Historically, the city has not fought hard for change in the police contract, and this is the first time (we know of that) that the city is even putting forth five priorities for arbitration, against BPPA’s five priorities. This is due to years of community organizing - we know we’ve already had a massive impact here!

Move the Money