I tried, but I could not stop myself and had to respond to a
letter that Mr. Hiser wrote in your newspaper last week. Mr. Hiser
suggested that the city renegotiate their contract with employees
over retirement benefits.
Editor,
I tried, but I could not stop myself and had to respond to a letter that Mr. Hiser wrote in your newspaper last week. Mr. Hiser suggested that the city renegotiate their contract with employees over retirement benefits.
Mr. Hiser, apparently you are talking about the recent front-page article in which the city council had hesitated in amending the police officers’ retirement benefit. First , I am sure this was done because the council lacked the information that should have been provided to them by their staff, i.e. city manager and city attorney. If the information had been provided, the council would have voted to amend the agreement as required by their mutual contract and by civil law. To not give the police officers the benefit would open the city to litigation that could take many months to resolve, costing the city thousands and thousands of dollars to defend, and, as shown in previous court cases, the city would ultimately lose. This is a no-brainer and once the members of the council are educated, they will agree.
Aside from all of this, as a retired police officer of almost 30 years (not in Hollister), and a resident of this community for close to 20 years, I find it very frustrating to see the City of Hollister time and again attempt to not pay local police officers a reasonable salary or to reduce their staffing.
I was a police officer in a community much like Hollister. I have been hit with a bat, punched in the face, kicked, pushed and been shot at. I have had my property vandalized and stolen by the very same people that I have arrested or served. My children have been chastised for being the kids of a cop. I have worked nights and rotated shifts every several months. I have been spit on and had full beer cans thrown at me. My shoulder has been dislocated, my back and neck have herniated discs and I have had more than 30 stitches on my arm and leg.
All of these issues are a direct result of being a police officer. Did I mention that my birthday is tomorrow and I will be 51 years old? All of these things happened and I still loved my job right up to the day I retired. I have a beautiful house, great children and a very supportive wife.
Mr. Hiser, I do not know what you do or have done for a living, but I can tell you what cops do for a living in Hollister and every other city and county nationwide. I can tell you that they all try the best they can to do a good job for you and every other citizen knowing that all of the things that I have mentioned can and may happen to each of them.
Mr. Hiser, you should be applauding the police in this town, not questioning their intent to retire at an age in which they can still be an active adult. You should be asking your council or city manager what you could do to help your community, not write a letter on a topic that you have no idea of what you are talking about.
For those of you who doubt me, go on a ride along with your police department, become a volunteer or just ask the next police officer you see. He or she will tell you that they love their job. They will tell you that when Mr. Hiser calls the police because his house was burglarized that they will show up, treat him with respect, investigate his case and hopefully arrest the person who did it.
Oh, they will remember all the Mr. Hiser types, but they will still do their job just like we ask them to.
Chris M. Hogan, retired patrol sergeant, Hollister
