If news accounts are accurate, the local Medford administration has given our local police department raises in each of the next three years. It is hard to understand how the current administration and past administrations have let such salaries get out of control. It is no wonder our property taxes are so high.
Consider the average patrolman already received $95,000 per year and this is now guaranteed to increase to $100,000 by 2016. Their total package of salary and benefits already goes as high as $150,000 a year.
Their leadership, which consists of two captains and four lieutenants, each receive from $120,000 to $130,000 a year. Plus all can retire after 25 years of service with full benefits.
Compare that to the average patrolmen in crime-ridden Philadelphia who receive a maximum of $60,579. Each day they go on the street, 365 days a year, facing one murder, two rapes, 21 robberies, 24 assaults, 32 burglaries, 108 thefts and 17 auto thefts. The dangers faced by the Medford police pale by comparison.
Currently, Medford has one police person, including leadership, for every 677 citizens, and they are continually asking for more. The citizens they serve only have an average household income of around $90,000 a year, with the community’s large senior population receiving substantially less. The average teacher with substantial education and greater responsibility only receives between $50,000 and $60,000 a year.
Medford police salaries and benefits have gotten way out of line with the community they serve.
Marion A. Eggleton
