500

500

The number 500 is a significant number in some sports. In Major League Baseball for example, for a player to reach 500 home runs is an incredible milestone. It is a number that more players may reach in the future, which for some may reduce its significance, but it is still an incredible achievement for any Major League Baseball player.

Unfortunately for the members of the New Bedford Police Union, the number 500 has a different meaning. Our last contract expired on June 30, 2024, and since that day it has now been 500 days since we have been without a contract. It is disheartening for the men and women of this Union who throughout those 500 days have still shown up to work, still investigated major incidents (shootings, stabbings, felony assaults, etc.), still investigated minor incidents (property crimes, motor vehicle accidents, etc.).

We have consistently shown up day and night in the service of the people of New Bedford. The Union will continue to exhibit the same level of service for the city because it is important that our citizens recognize that even without a contract, we will not stop doing our jobs and maintaining the highest level of professionalism and pride. We do it because we believe in the city and the people of this city.

Some may view this as complaining, as “negotiation tactics” or a “bargaining position” (two phrases that have been used quite often from the Mayor’s office and other City Hall spokespersons), but the fact of the matter is that we are employees who want to be fairly compensated for our efforts. The issues listed below are some of the issues that the Union currently faces, and also reasons for the lower number of officers working in the department:

• The closure of Station 1 (downtown station) over three years ago
• Personnel leaving for other agencies and departments (some of these agencies/departments include the Massachusetts State Police, Brockton, Fairhaven, Lakeville, Carver, and others).
  • This also doesn’t take into account count that there are currently officers who could potentially leave soon because of the lack of a contract. Officers leave for a variety of reasons to include better pay, better growth opportunities within the other department, support from city/town leadership
• Retirements
• Unfilled positions cause our Uniform Patrol Officers and Investigative Units to have increased workloads.
• Station 3, the north end station, is still without a Division Commander (Captain)
• No promotions at this time, as such there is no upward growth within the department.
  • With promotions stagnated, this means that there are no senior officers being promoted to positions such as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, stepping into these leadership roles to guide and direct other officers (including new and veteran officers). Leadership development is essential and necessary in any department, as this will not only improve morale but also provide direction for the department.
• No Quinn Bill for current officers hired after 2014 and new hires. The Quinn Bill is an education incentive which allows officers to get compensated for having their degree in Criminal Justice. Numerous studies show that police officers with higher levels of education consistently make better decisions overall at high stress, are involved in less of Use of Force Situations, write better reports, and handle overall situations with a higher level of service.

We have limited means with which we can spread our message to the public, to maintain the transparency between the people of New Bedford and the Union, which is of utmost importance to us. We will continue to write articles, social media messages, radio promotions, yard signs, billboards, whatever we have to do to ensure that the people of New Bedford are informed as to the happenings of the department.

With or without a contract, the Union will continue to do everything we can to make the City of New Bedford a safer place for its citizens and their families. We are not asking for special treatment, we are asking for an opportunity to continue to grow in the profession that we have devoted our lives to and for the opportunity to provide the best services to the people of New Bedford.

500 days without a contract is too long for anyone, regardless of their profession, and is something that we hope can be addressed sooner than later.

Respectfully submitted,

Officer Lorenzo Gonzalez III

NBPU President