Aug 13, 2008 6:15 pm US/Eastern
State To Cut Back Police Details
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
We have all seen them -- police officers directing traffic around road construction. They cost the state millions each year and now there is a first step to end the expensive practice.
Police details cost the state about $25 million each year, and they have long been considered a sacred cow on Beacon Hill.
Under new regulations coming this fall, a small percentage of police officers on state road projects will be replaced with civilian flaggers, who cost less.
The new regulations were announced on Wednesday by Secretary of Transportation Bernard Cohen. "I can tell that we believe that this will save substantial sums of money that we now pay on details that we will now be able to invest in infrastructure."
However, state officials would not say what "substantial" means. The regulations call for using flaggers only on state roadways where the speed limit is less than 45 mph, which is less than one-third of all state roads.
However, one analysis estimates that these new regulations would initially save about $5 million. That's because non-union flaggers make anywhere from $20 to $37 an hour. Compare that to state police troopers, who get paid at least $40 an hour.
But administration officials point out it's not only the hourly wage which matters here. Police officers are guaranteed four hours pay. That would go away and some road projects could use fewer flaggers, compared to the current number of troopers being used.
Rick Brown is the president of the union which represents state police troopers in Massachusetts. "We just don't think these regulations are good for the Commonwealth and public safety as a whole."
Brown says fewer troopers at roadway construction sites mean more people will get injured. He says he understands the need to watch every penny in the state budget. "Oh absolutely, we are in a tough economy, no doubt about it, we are in a tough economy... but to put it on the back of the people who are protecting our roadways… I don't buy that."
The Patrick administration says safety will not be compromised. And while even some conservatives applaud the governor for taking on this issue, some see it as a relatively minor change.
Jim Stergois is the Executive Director of the conservation Boston think tank, The Pioneer Institute. "I think they have tried their best, but I just don't think they have gone far enough."
State Executives would not say how many current or future road projects would be affected by these regulations.
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