14 State Troopers made over $200,000 because of Big Dig.

[ieffinhatecardio]

Take a look at this money grab. The numbers are just incredible. And instead of spreading it around so every trooper can get a piece of the pie these clowns are hording it for themselves. It's even costing us more because lieutenants get an hourly wage nearly double if not more in some instances compared to what a trooper would get.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=191222&srvc=news
Big Dig pay dirt for troopers: Lieutenants rake in lucrative overtime
By Dave Wedge
Boston Herald Chief Enterprise Reporter
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - Updated: 11:25 AM EST

State police brass at the Massachusetts Turnpike scooped up lucrative road jobs after the Big Dig tunnel collapse, snagging a nearly $1 million overtime cash windfall as salaries skyrocketed to unprecedented six-figure levels.
    The 14 lieutenants assigned to the Pike hauled in an average of $67,234 in overtime pay last year, pushing their average annual pay to $207,911. One raked in more than $100,000 in overtime pay alone, a Herald review of Pike payroll records found.
    The staggering OT earnings of the Pike lieutenants, whose base annual pay is about $90,000, has escalated tensions with the rank-and-file troopers union, which has several grievances pending against the department regarding the assignment of overtime. But Pike spokesman Jon Carlisle said overtime during the tunnel closures was handed out based on union rules.
    “There are policies and assurances in place to make sure it’s done in a fair and equitable fashion,” Carlisle said.
    But hiring brass to do Big Dig road jobs jacked up the taxpayer cost significantly since the overtime rate for lieutenants is more than double what troopers make. Troopers, whose base starting salary is $49,000, make between $37 and $53 per hour for overtime, while lieutenants get up to $92 an hour for the same job.
    The result at the Pike was seven lieutenants who made more than $200,000 and an eighth who made nearly $198,000. All 14 made more than the $155,000 paid to the Pike’s top cop, Maj. Michael Mucci.
    Topping the list was Lt. John F. O’Grady Jr., who earned $281,845 in 2006, thanks to $122,478 in overtime pay. In 2005, O’Grady made $80,522 in overtime and a total salary of $231,321.
    The second top-earner was Lt. Drew Kalton, who made $97,364 in OT, for a total of $249,679. Kalton made just $39,468 in OT in 2005 and $157,064 for the year.
    The union grievances accuse the brass of swiping road jobs from rank-and-file troopers in violation of rules that require overtime shifts go to lower-paid officers. Troopers also complain that the road jobs fall outside of the higher-ranking officers’ job descriptions. Union officials declined comment.
    Despite the rift, the tunnel closures also proved lucrative for the Pike’s 150 rank-and-file troopers, 24 of whom made more than $200,000.
    In a move to save money, Pike officials last month gave troopers take-home cruisers for the first time in years and stripped them of a $40-a-day stipend to drive their own cars to work. The long-standing perk had boosted some troopers’ salaries by $12,000.
    “Troop E is subject to the same payment structure governing all state troopers,” Carlisle said. “Where we can reduce costs . . . we do.”

[Tre]

You guys are paying cops $200K a year?

Insane. 

[ieffinhatecardio]

You guys are paying cops $200K a year?

Insane. 

Yes, and these are just the State Troopers. There are Boston City Cops making that kind of money as well. You're right, it is insane.

[BayGBM]

The corruption in Boston is as bad as in Florida!  Maybe worse.  I'll tell you a story about it when I get back from the gym...

[headhuntersix]

Keep in mind cost of living..I think base salary for a CHP/LAPD officer is 55,000 without Spanish and 5 grand per language after that. My uncle was fairly high up in the Mass state police...unlike alot of states, if they are doing road construction there will always be a trooper there on overtime. Not sure what he'd doing and I'm assuming they still do that. Out west u don't see it.

[kh300]

my hatred of troopers grows larger

[youandme]

What state do you think has the most corruption? I say Louisiana

[Camel Jockey]

Looking at the pay of those assholes makes me feel sorry for so many first year NYPD officers. 

[Deadpool]

it's just st00pid, Massachusetts should get with the times and hire flagmen.