BOSTON – Boston City Council President Ed Flynn said Monday he is calling for an emergency meeting with Boston’s police commissioner after a city officer was ordered to work 24 hours straight.
Flynn also called for the hiring of additional Boston police officers to address what he calls “a major problem” within the department with mandatory overtime.
“Working 24 hours without a break to rest is not only harmful to police officers and their families, it’s harmful to residents and our neighborhoods,” Flynn said in a statement. “It is also illegal to work so many hours without rest. Mistakes are made when a police officer is sleep-deprived.”
“Last year, I spoke directly with Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox about this personnel issue, and they assured me it would not happen again,” Flynn said. “However, this recent incident is confirmation that we have a significant problem in the department with mandatory overtime.”
Flynn said over the past six years, “I have consistently advocated for the hiring of at least 300 police officers each year for the next ten years due to forced overtime, over-resourcing, transfers out of the department and retirements.” .
“The current system of forced overtime is a failure and cannot continue,” Flynn said. “You will be filing an order for a hearing on this troubling situation at the next City Council meeting and I will request an immediate meeting with the Boston Police Commissioner to discuss my concerns.”
In a tweet Monday, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association echoed Flynn’s comments about the 24-hour shift worked by the Boston officer.
“A triple shift is one too many. NO ONE should be working 24 hours straight. Waiver of the 90 hour rule is an abuse of power,” the police union said. “Our officers are constantly being ordered to work 16-hour shifts all summer long. It’s unacceptable and dangerous.”
The police overtime issue comes as officers in Boston and the city deal with a spate of shootings, including gunfire that erupted in Mattapan on July 5 that left five people injured.
Police on Saturday night arrested a Boston man on assault-murder charges near the scene where five people were shot earlier in Mattapan.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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