– News from elsewhere covered by Quincy Quarry News.
Massachusetts State Police overtime scandal: most of the troopers discerned and how much they were making.
One of Quincy Quarry’s online media brethren has learned the names of some of troopers either who have been suspended or retired given the overtime investigation of Troop E of the Massachusetts State Police.
The Massachusetts State Police troopers accused of receiving overtime pay for shifts they did not actually work on a specialized patrol on the Massachusetts Turnpike range in rank from trooper to lieutenant.
While officials have not released the names publicly, one of the Quarry’s brethren has connected the dots and so discerned a dozen of those now under a microscope.
A total of 21 troopers were investigated during an audit of the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort Patrols, known as AIRE patrols, on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
The AIRE patrol is a MassDOT program intended to increase patrols along the Massachusetts Turnpike to deter traffic violators.
Troopers were supposed to work four or six-hour shifts and were paid time and a half to catch violations and issue warnings and tickets.
Instead, however, the AIRE program was apparently open to any Troop E trooper who wanted to work it.
My father-in-law was an HONEST Sergeant in the Cambridge, Mass. police force. Before that, the lead bomber pilot of his squadron in World War II. He guided his son to be a successful EAGLE Boy Scout and to receive high awards from Massachusetts. Then that little boy graduated from Harvard University, living two blocks from his basement apartment – because Dad wanted his son to have the on-campus experience (yes, for which he spent many, many hours on extra details). Dad also taught in the school systems to teach safety and RULES OF CONDUCT!!!!!! The kids LOVED him. I (Linda McCarthy, and proud to have my husband’s Dad’s last name) know our A1 Dad (who is gone now) would be so very sad to see how the police are losing integrity. —– If there are any picketers to bring our concerns to the State Police lot or courthouse, I really feel that society needs to make our outrage heard. I thought of organizing something myself, but I’m 62 years old and have never done anything like that before. However, my family is so outraged that these police phonies are stealing our REALLY HARD EARNED money, that we’re ready to pounce on them ourselves. What can we do to make people honest again?
Ms. McCarthy,
How fortunate you are to have such wonderful memories of your father.
In turn, I thus hope you will find comfort in knowing that while the wheels of justice turn slowly, they have begun turning.
And in the meanwhile, if you decide to organize a protest about those who have tarnished their badges, I sense that you will do just fine doing so.