Investigation into the Massachusetts state police department has revealed that certain state troopers have been abusing overtime pay, with some earning more than even Gov. Charlie Baker’s annual salary. In addition, data, made public after an investigation by The Boston Globe, reveals that officers have been receiving higher payment in certain divisions than in others for a long time.
Police officers who work for the Troop F sector, which is assigned to the Boston Logan airport and the surrounding area, have specifically been making more in overtime pay than in base pay. Troop F has also raised red flags in other aspects, failing to report its payroll records to the authorities and neglecting to make these records public.
It’s not unfair to say that police officer corruption feels common in Boston. At the very least, the Boston Police Department always seems to be facing criticism, whether it be for sharing an offensive tweet during Black History Month or the scandal surrounding faulty breathalyzer tests. This scandal adds to a growing list of speculations about the police in Boston and in Massachusetts as a whole. Last week, reporting on the Massachusetts state troopers showed that several officers were clocking overtime shifts and receiving pay for them, but did not actually work those hours.
The most troubling aspect of this is not the hefty pay of these officers and how much their salaries are costing taxpayers. It’s the fact that we were not aware of these payments until now. Since 2010, Troop F has not been releasing its payment records to the comptroller, who makes them public. Something that involves the financial burden of the tax paying citizens should be public information. Without any external institution able to hold such officers accountable, there is room for them to take advantage of the system.
Technically, Massport, a private airport operator, is responsible for the payment of Troop F officers. Regardless, they should be still seen public officers, with jobs that serve the public. If the department is connected with the government in any way, then officers from the department should be reporting to the public as well.
Nevertheless, it’s still troubling to see officers being paid more than someone who governs the state. While the role and duties of police officers are crucial in maintaining our safety, surely, we can agree the task of governing an entire state entails more responsibility. For instance, Troop E, another division accused of overtime abuse, is responsible for patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike, meaning they hand out speeding tickets and ensure general road safety. But certainly that does not equate to an overtime pay upwards of $100,000.
Additionally, while the duties among certain officers might differ to an extent, the difference in pay for them should not be drastic. After all, they’re still police officers who all have a similar level of responsibility. Not reporting these figures continues to undermine police credibility in the city and creates a feeling of distrust amongst residents.
Overtime pay should be used strategically by employers to incentivize workers and to encourage them to take on these shifts. However, if the amount of pay for working an overtime shift is too high, that creates a system in which everyone is seeking overtime and could result in abuses. In fact, over the years, Troop F has become a coveted division amongst officers who are seeking higher pay while still working comfortable hours. This creates a rift in the actual responsibilities of police officers and their desire to get paid. Setting a cap for the amount of pay on overtime shifts isn’t an unreasonable measure to take, even as just a short-term solution to the issue.
Long term, there should be better policies to ensure that state officers are reporting to their comptrollers. Or perhaps we should more closely examine these institutions and hold them accountable by simply looking for public records. In any case, we need to form better ways to demand transparency so that members of the community can feel like they can trust their law enforcement.
