TAXPAYERS, LAWMAKERS MUST CONTROL POLICE PERKS.(PERSPECTIVE)

Byline: DAVID A. GIACALONE Scotia

Police (and firefighters) have hard and important jobs. They deserve our support -- but not our charity. And they certainly cannot be allowed to pick our pockets anymore.

In many local jurisdictions, police still have many perks that were rightly taken away by more diligent watchdogs years ago. Getting a day off for giving blood and getting overtime pay in blocks of 4-hour shifts (no matter how few minutes are actually worked), are good examples.

But the most outrageous ``perk'' assumed by local police officers is their little pension padding conspiracy. With our cities in financial ruin, …