Yoon Takes Aim at Boston Police on Overtime Spending
Puts Pressure on BPD to Manage Excessive Costs

May 5, 2009

BOSTON- City Councilor at Large and mayoral candidate Sam Yoon questioned the Boston Police Department (BPD’s) excessive overtime spending during a hearing today for the Ways and Means Committee to analyze the department’s FY10 budget.

“The Boston Police Department needs a new way of approaching overtime spending that brings accountability and oversight to the Department,”said Yoon. “The BPD exceeded its overtime budget by 50% last year. We need to know what steps the Police Department is taking to make sure it stays within its means – just like every other department is required to do.”

Yoon recently held a hearing to examine possible budget saving recommendations provided in the latest report from the Boston Finance Commission. The report found that proper management of overtime spending could save the City over $24 million a year, including $17 million from the BPD, alone. According to the report, 520 employees of the BPD earned more than $30,000 in overtime last year.

Yoon said that the Police Department could use cost savings to pay for programs with a greater impact on the streets.

“We have real public safety priorities that need funding, and we cannot have a discussion about overtime spending without putting it in the context of how we could better use those funds,” said Yoon. “Just a fraction of the excessive overtime spending would free up enough money to pay for comprehensive youth violence prevention and the mounted unit to patrol our parks.”