Due to budget constraints, the Tampa City Council denied step raises for TPD.
It was voted down 5-1, with former cop Joseph Caetano the only dissenter.
The quotes from city council say it all:
Council member Linda Saul-Sena: “We value you, we honor you, and we are so grateful that you are serving in our city. I just don’t know where we’re going to get the money,”
Council chairman Tom Scott: “It’s unfortunate that today, when you go out and put your life on the line, it equates to dollars and cents.”
We love our police officers, and are awed by their bravery. I’m sure we would love to pay them twice as much as they make.
But when it comes to budget issues – especially in the current economy – being a police officer is just another job. As a worker, we agree to perform tasks for a specific pay. Each cop needs to determine if his or her risk is worth the current salary. If not, perhaps it is time to look for something else to do.
