Grant bungle irks Swampscott cops

SWAMPSCOTT – The town has agreed to allow the police department to accept a Department of Justice grant, which would pay the salary and benefits for a new officer for a three-year period. It would put an additional police officer on the street but selectmen imposed conditions that have upset some officers.At the meeting, Town Administrator Andrew Maylor told selectmen if the town accepted the COPS grant and hired a new officer he believes the department should require Jim Schultz, who was transferred in February from the detective office to patrol in an attempt to reduce overtime, remain on patrol instead of returning to his detective duties.Detective Sgt. Tim Cassidy, who was not speaking on behalf of the department, was incensed at the restrictions the selectmen put on accepting the grant.”You don’t find partners like Jim Schultz,” he said. “You need someone like Jim, who you know is going to be there when things go bad. Anytime we execute a search warrant or make an arrest I feel very comfortable knowing Jim has my back. He broke his leg in half on duty and injured his back on duty and fought to get back to work. I didn’t know the selectmen ran the police department.”Officer Todd Pierce, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local No. 387, said the union is very concerned about the vote taken by selectmen.”Our concern is the fact the selectmen have tied the chief’s hands when it comes to staffing issues,” Pierce said. “The chief is a professional with more than 20 years experience. He should be running the department not the selectmen.”Pierce said it is his understanding the grant should be used to improve services not merely to cut overtime cost.”The intent of the grant is to improve services,” he said. “The intent of hiring a patrol officer and keeping Schultz on patrol is just to cut overtime. It has nothing to do with improving services. With a new officer we will not be short staffed on patrol but we are short staffed in CID. The guys are doing a great job but we’re short staffed in that department and if we’re hiring someone Schultz needs to be returned to the detective office. I still believe the grant funding is worth applying for and I’m optimistic that if circumstances change in the future the selectmen will be willing to reconsidering their position.”Pierce pointed out Schultz has specialized training in detective work and the town would be best served if Schultz were in the detective office.”He has the specialized training necessary to conduct investigations,” he said.Police Chief Ronald Madigan said he made the decision to reassign Schultz in February based solely on the need to control mounting overtime costs in the Department.Madigan said he discussed with Maylor leaving the detective in uniform in addition to the grant-funded position with the goal of keeping overtime in check in a difficult funding environment.”My goal is to avoid having to consider other, more drastic staff changes such as lay offs and rank restructuring,” he said. “While I was not aware prior to the meeting that the selectmen were going to take the unusual step of approving the application for a new officer conditional on the detective remaining in patrol for the entire grant period I understand their concerns during this period of economic uncertainty and their hesitance to commit to hiring an officer without some assurance that there will be a benefit financially.”Maylor said part of the grant requirements are to supplement services currently being provided.”If we return the officer back into the detective bureau we would be hiring someone to replace the patrol officer there would be no additional services,” he said. “These are decisions based on services and finance and not on individuals.”Schultz, who also serves at the town’s veterans’ agent, has been with department since 1996 and has received several citations from the chief during his tenure. He also has numerous letters in his personnel file from businesse