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Police Bring Public Safety Message to School Meeting

Voters arriving for the annual school meeting in Bedford got a lesson in public safety on Feb. 10.

Sergeants, patrol officers and dispatchers who work for the Bedford Police Department have been working without a new contract since the end of October 2003. These members of SEA Chapter 64 braved the tail end of a major snowstorm to set up an informational picket line outside the McKelvie Middle School as voters arrived for the public session.

SEA members who work for the Bedford Police Department set up an informational picket outside the McKelvie Middle School before the school meeting on Feb. 10.

"We are picketing tonight in hopes of raising some awareness with the community so that they can start asking some questions and hopefully call their Town Council members," said Sean Kilbreth, a detective and chapter president.

Like many of the suburban towns between Manchester and Massachusetts, Bedford struggles with growth and a strained tax system. Voters inside the school were faced with difficult decisions about where the town's students would go to high school. The growth has also affected police work.

 Rising Crime Rate

"If anybody in this town has seen what has happened to the crime rate and the severity of crime in this town, they will see that even without a contract, this union has done a great job of dealing that crime," Kilbreth said.

In the long run, Sgt. Rob Gagliardi believes the mediocre pay increases offered by the town would leave Bedford with an inexperienced police force.

"We think we are an above average police department," he said.

 Retaining Veteran Officers

Brian Masker, a patrol officer, said a fair contract will allow Bedford to compete with other towns in the area.

To maintain the quality of the Bedford police, union members recognize that the town should pay a competive rate that will attract qualified recruits and encourage experienced members to remain with the force.

"We just want to be able to retain our veteran officers and attract quality personnel when we do have openings," he said.

Kilbreth was encouraged that allies from the Manchester and Merrimack police departments and from the Bedford Fire Department joined the picket line. The Pizza Bella shop helped chase the cold by donating several hot pizzas.

Any future developments in contract negotiations will be announced here.