Overtime is necessary, just make it clear why

Re the editorial on police overtime: Overtime, like any other expenditure, cannot be controlled until you know what it's for.

[BillB]

No doubt overtime is a necessary cost whether running a business or government entity. Though the former for the most part would have a considerably better handle on it being how those that receive money via the taxpayer are not beholden to the same fiscal responsibilities.

While no one should begrudge legitimate overtime. It's the blatant abuses that should be keyed in on such as someone earning 50 to 100% of their base pay. No one can tell me that anyone responsible for public safety can be nearly as effective when working 60-80 hours a week or never taking a day off on an on going basis.

Also while it may be in their extremely liberal union contracts the use of ANY overtime going towards calculation of a pension must be changed. That is not only an insult to the intelligence of commonsense but just one of the controllable costs that if not nipped just adds to the unsustainable destructive path those we elect to do the right thing have led us down.

[Max]

The issue isn't overtime, as the media keeps reporting, it's the abuse of overtime, which is what the letter writer is saying. Every department has those who want to double their annual earnings with consistent and persistent overtime. That is what needs to stop.

[Truth Matters]

Many of those getting the most overtime had desk jobs. This is not about "stopping an ongoing pursuit" as was alleged by the letter writer.

[Local Guy]

Ahhh, some common sense. As Max said, it's the abuse that has to stop. Maybe the media over-kill (as much as I dislike it) is the only way to wake up the O.T. decision makers.

[Obama bin Biden]

BillB wrote:

No doubt overtime is a necessary cost whether running a business or government entity. Though the former for the most part would have a considerably better handle on it being how those that receive money via the taxpayer are not beholden to the same fiscal responsibilities.
While no one should begrudge legitimate overtime. It's the blatant abuses that should be keyed in on such as someone earning 50 to 100% of their base pay. No one can tell me that anyone responsible for public safety can be nearly as effective when working 60-80 hours a week or never taking a day off on an on going basis.
Also while it may be in their extremely liberal union contracts the use of ANY overtime going towards calculation of a pension must be changed. That is not only an insult to the intelligence of commonsense but just one of the controllable costs that if not nipped just adds to the unsustainable destructive path those we elect to do the right thing have led us down.

Bill, sorry but you are wrong. There are a lot of government employees, especially in law enforcement, that have specialty skills and training that are limited to certain individuals. A lot of these specialty skills are in high demand and require these individuals to be on constant call. It is a known fact if you intend to pursue a career in law enforcement you can count on working some f'd up hours and a lot of them, especially if you have a specialty skill that is in high demand. If you took a gander at the chart of BSO overtime deputie's pay you would see a lot of them listed as under cover. These individuals work at the criminals schedule not a set 40 hour work week. A lot of deputies that make a lot of overtime work in the DUI Task Force. They are required to work nights on patrol and frequently arrest 3 to 4 people a night for DUI. It just so happens that the trials for these DUIs is during the day. That requires the deputies to rack up a lot of overtime because their appearance in court is mandatory. Another thing you have to consider is a lot of overtime pay is covered by government grants from the federal government. These grants were put in place to reduce crime by having more officers on the street. If I am not wrong, overtime rules such as time and a half per hour are set by Florida Law not BSO.

[Truth Matters]

Any one wan't to bet that the letter was not written by the James Smith that works for the BCSO? The real question is was he getting "overtime" pay while he wrote the letter.

[Obama bin Biden]

Truth Matters wrote:

Many of those getting the most overtime had desk jobs. This is not about "stopping an ongoing pursuit" as was alleged by the letter writer.

Oh really, any proof of that? Your frick'n ignorant. You might not have so much disdain for law enforcement if you would just lay off the kiddy porn.

[Truth Matters]

Obama bin Biden wrote:

<quoted text>Oh really, any proof of that? Your frick'n ignorant. You might not have so much disdain for law enforcement if you would just lay off the kiddy porn.

Look at the data base - 80% of the guys getting the big overtime dollars are in supervisory positions and are getting ready to retire so they are looking at padding there pensions by working a lot of hours in the last five years.

The first person on the list is a Captain with a base pay of $97,000 who was paid $212,000 - his assignment - training. This is typical of the list.

[Tony S]

It already is classified, documented and reported to leaders of the city.

They just don't want to tell you, but under the sunshine law you have the right to ask. Do it and see for your self.

By the way the SS has this information but fails to report it. They feel they don't have the responsibility to "inform" the public since they are a "rag" paper.

[Tony S]

Be specific to what agebcy you are referring to.
FLPD does NOT allow OT in to the pension calculation.

Truth Matters wrote:

<quoted text>
Look at the data base - 80% of the guys getting the big overtime dollars are in supervisory positions and are getting ready to retire so they are looking at padding there pensions by working a lot of hours in the last five years.
The first person on the list is a Captain with a base pay of $97,000 who was paid $212,000 - his assignment - training. This is typical of the list.

[Truth Matters]

Tony S wrote:

Be specific to what agebcy you are referring to.
FLPD does NOT allow OT in to the pension calculation.
<quoted text>

It is the BCSO.

[Truth Matters]

Another case in point - BCSO Deputy Sheriff Charles Grady - base pay $69,000 total salary $107,000. Just not enough time to molest women in a 40 hour week.

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