Boston Police take home city's biggest paychecks

The Boston Globe reports:

Police in Boston were by far the city's top earners last year, with 25 Police Department employees earning more than $200,000, nearly four times the number who made that amount in 2005, according to city payroll figures released to the Globe.

Of the 125 highest paid city employees last year, all but one -- Superintendent of Schools Michael G. Contompasis, who made $221,574 -- were police officers, the records show.

Police have long been big earners in Boston, where a powerful union and private detail work have helped boost pay. But in 2006, the amounts were higher than in recent years. Police Lieutenant Timothy M. Kervin collected $240,183 in 2006, making him the top earner in a department in which 1,276 employees, about 41 percent of the force, made $100,000 or more. In 2005, 1,026 employees, about 36 percent of the force, made $100,000 or more.

City officials attributed much of the increase in police pay to increased detail work and overtime, prompting some city watchdogs to say that overtime has prevented the city from making strides toward a larger police force.

"This is one of the reasons why it's difficult for the city of Boston to add more police officers and expand the force, because the position itself is so expensive," said Samuel R. Tyler, president of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, a business-funded group.
In 2006, the average uniformed police officer made $113,617, including $35,600 in detail and overtime pay, according to figures provided by city budget officials. Firefighters, on average, made $91,087 in 2006, including about $12,500 in overtime and detail pay. The average teacher made $62,195 in total pay.

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