We had no idea. That sounds a little sad. As if we buy our badges off of EBay or the Dollar Store.
But in Troy, where the badges are refurbished from New York City-area agencies, not all are made the same. In fact, sometimes they eventually fall off in pieces.
"The cost to this proposal is the creation of the molds for TPD products. Once accomplished, a local vendor who represents a noteworthy manufacturer will be chosen," Tedesco said in a memo.
Not to worry, penny-pinchers, this will not cost the taxpayer.
The city is drawing on $85,892 in federal asset forfeiture funds for the initial $8,000 expenditure.
The city will also apply the forfeiture funds for other police equipment upgrades. This will allow the financially-strapped city to avoid tapping into its budget to equip its officers.
Patrol officers will see new mobile data terminals installed in their squad cars. This $49,356 investment will help make the switch to tablets from laptops in marked cars. In addition, five driver's license reader kits will be purchased for $1,695.
The department will also spend $9,000 to issue Springfield SDS .45-caliber semi-automatic pistols to the detective bureau. These pistols are smaller than the standard issued SIG Sauer patrol weapons.
The city will also apply the forfeiture funds for other police equipment upgrades. This will allow the financially-strapped city to avoid tapping into its budget to equip its officers.
Patrol officers will see new mobile data terminals installed in their squad cars. This $49,356 investment will help make the switch to tablets from laptops in marked cars. In addition, five driver's license reader kits will be purchased for $1,695.
The department will also spend $9,000 to issue Springfield SDS .45-caliber semi-automatic pistols to the detective bureau. These pistols are smaller than the standard issued SIG Sauer patrol weapons.
Welcome to the 21st Century.
The City will also spend $75,000 to equip twenty-five police officers and four patrol cars with cameras, probably Polaroids. More on that later.
In other news, Troy City Court Judge Matthew Turner will run for re-election. Turner has been City Court Judge since 1962. Actually, Turner seeks a fourth, six-year term. Turner should be a shoe-in for re-election except that this is a presidential election year. A credible opponent could make a race of it.
Turner, a Conservative, does a decent job and there seems no compelling reason to switch horses this year.
39 comments:
How about instead of upgrading badges, the city invests in its Officers and offers them a reasonable contract. There have been 10 cops that have left for other agencies since October. More guys are leaving before the end of the summer and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor could care less
Spend spend spend.
The biggest upgrade the TPD could ask for is a new chief.
At 10:19, it's 10:19! Get a job!
The Chief was made out of refurbished parts from NYC.
TU reports that the upgrades would include body cameras and patrol car cameras - this would be a good thing. especially if it can be paid for through federal grants and forfeiture funds. The badges thing is just a silly sideshow, but $8,000 for a design and mold???
The upgrades are fine and the great news is that it comes from other then tax payer money. TPD should be equipped to do its job and protecting the officers should be paramount.
@4:21 pm - Did you even consider that 10:19 am might be RETIRED!
Thank you tom h
You can give a dog turd a new badge but you still just got a dog turd.
6:01 Especially if he's in his early forties and worked for the TPD
Turner has been a Judge since 1962? LOL He may have been born in 1962, but he certainly hasn't been a Judge since then.
I seriously can't even.
Troy needs unifications. And all's you people do is diss on people because of there party or there appearance
maybe we should care more and bitch less Just sayin'.
6:45 PM,
Well said.
I get that it's frustrating to not be paid what you think you are worth, but it rubs people the wrong way when you publicly complain about being underpaid when the TPD salary is significantly higher than the median income in Troy. And that's without even factoring in the better health care and a terrific pension.
It just looks bad and makes the TPD sound entitled.
It's not the police department's fault that Troy has built it's current economy nearly entirely on the minimum wage service industry, handing out endless PILOT programs to boot. There is nothing wrong with asking for a higher wage, especially when same-industry wage standards are higher in similar communities. That goes for public sector and private. You may not get what you ask for, but it's not wrong to ask.
The problem lies on with TPD. Rather, communities with lower average income also tend to have higher crime rates, and as recent events have proved, the job of a Troy Police Officer is not an easy on, especially compared with higher paying departments.
No, the problem lies with Troy administration. Pilot programs for low paying industries that only employ a small handful. Zero effort (at least to the public eye and knowledge) to attract higher paying tech industries; despite the fact that Troy is home to an Engineering college (which also pays no taxes while using vast amounts of public resources).
Does the chief care? You didn't say
Right on dude!
12:20 AMEN. Enough already! If you don't like the salary, leave and find a better one. No one is stopping you. You'll be replaced before the door hits your ass, and you know it. That's why you're all so bitter.
Just for thought . . .
If you are self-employed, you earn what you are worth.
If something goes wrong, it is your fault and the buck stops on your desk.
If you are in the public sector, you are always underpaid.
If something goes wrong, it is the other guy's fault and the buck rarely stops on your desk.
Unless you're a cop. If something goes wrong... You're dead.
Then join the TFD, no one has ever left the TFD for another job, ever.
@6:10 - No, there's nothing wrong with asking. And there is nothing wrong with thinking you are entitled to more. The comment to which I was responding was not politely asking however. It was angrily demanding and even a bit whiny (The mayor and deputy mayor don't care? That's absurd and inflammatory).
The implication of your statement about Troy building its economy on the minimum wage service sector implies that Troy had a meaningful choice. There are national and global economic forces at work, the same forces that have left the vast majority of northeastern industrial towns in the same boat as Troy.
Do you think you can just wave a magic wand and attract high tech, well paying jobs into the city? If that were the case, every city would wave that wand and there would be no problems ever. Are service jobs the ideal? No, of course not. However, something is better than nothing and all businesses contribute to tax revenue. Particularly when compared to empty commercial space.
More frustratingly, it seems that you are angry with Troy for facing these economic difficulties. And, what is more, you are angry not because it hurts Troy's citizens, but because it makes it harder for Troy to pay you more money. This is why the low residency numbers are so galling to so many people.
I know it sounds like I begrudge the TPD good salaries; that is not the case. If you are correct that you are underpaid, I would love for the city to be wealthy enough to say yes. However, the city is not wealthy and just as the PBA can ask, the city is allowed to say no.
My point is simply that whatever you think you are worth, please take into account that most Trojans are worse off than you and calibrate your complaints accordingly.
You get a half truth for that one. While not common, people have left TFD before retirement to pursue other careers.
Professional firefighters in general are more likely to remain in one city than police officers of private sector employees for a few reasons. The hiring process can take several years, often requiring prospective candidates to relocate and hope for the best. Most professional fire departments do not accept lateral transfers, meaning firemen leaving one dept for another would have to attend an academy again if/once hired.
While you are mostly right, it isn't very often firefighters actively pursue employment on another department, there are exceptions. Most recently, Memphis saw a mass exodus of both firefighters and police officers due to relatively low wages, benifits, and morale compared to other departments in the general area. While it is rare, when it happens, the financial effects of consistently putting recruits through academies while trying to limit vacancies (only to have large quantities of candidates immediately take their new certifications to higher paying jobs) and simultaneously filling several vacancies with overtime can be devastating to a municipality.
It's a bit of a catch-22. When people complain about low pay, they are told to stop whining and go find a job that pays more. When they follow through and actually leave, then they are bad guys for screwing over their previous employer.
7:45 PM,
Fortunately for you, the comment section of this blog is not equipped with a truth detector that would prevent the publishing of lies and misinformation.
So you got that going for you. Which is nice.
9:49 who would consider anyone a "bad guy" for leaving one job for a higher paying better job?
9:49 if you want to follow through and actually leave, we'll throw a party for you. We won't think you're a bad guy, I promise. So go for it. Reach for your dreams!
There's been a few retirements and some guys left. Stop being so dramatic. The cops get good pay and they can get some overtime. Sure, they're worth more money, but we can't afford it.
If they want to leave, they are free to do so. I'll bet if you ask, Tedesco has more to do with the departures than salary.
Why because Tedesco makes them be accountable and do their jobs??
Sounds like the boys in blue got a good gig. A crappy Chief and low wages. Just where every potential cop strives to work!
What exactly makes John a crappy chief? Is it because he refuses to overlook police indiscretions? Is it because he at least tries to work within his budget? As a lifelong resident, and taxpayer I have the upmost respect for anyone crazy enough to do what you guys do everyday. It infuriates me when one of you gets run through the wringer for just doing what you are trained, and paid for to do-- and then see some spineless politician pay off some crackhead scumbagn But, it's no longer the Chief Miller days. Unfortunately, in today's world, the chief has to run the department, and work within his budget. Reserve fund was spent down, and there is no money. I agree that you are underpaid, for what you do- and do well btw. I'd suggest you try and work with the chief, instead of some of you always trying to put a knife in the man's back.
If his biggest strength is working within a budget then we should rethink what the term "leader" is. His only focus is the budget, he doesn't concern himself with any other issues with the PD. You think he would be concerned with the Officers morale and why a dozen employees have left for other agencies. That is troubling in and of it self.
It amuses me that "officers" who never make it past the pay grade of "officer" are the biggest whiniest group of malcontents. Fitzy would be proud.
You should see some of the "officers" that are promoted to "sergeant." At one point Tedesco was a Sergeant, look at how well that has worked for TPD.
Really? Someone actually jumped off the Troy FD Gravy train? Unheard of!
Fitzy who is $80,000 richer because of the chief and former mayordont believe in following the law? That Fitzy?
Ok officer for life.
Police are human to..we are not perfect.some are good & some no.maybe we weren't good as teenagers.maybe they decided to be police officers so they could feel power
His men don't hate him, just the few that he makes work now have something to say.
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