The Chief's Decision

The rumblings started last week that Police Chief Edward Cronin was displeased with how the budget stuff went down, but he is unsure what he will do. I talked to him on Friday, and he didn't say much different than has been rumored and printed in the last few days.

There's two ways of looking at this:

The City Council took a look at the budget, and realized it could keep police officers but it would mean losing the dispatchers. They swallowed hard and made a tough decision, which they think is best for the city.

Or, the union went to the council, and said, "Hey, we want to protect our membership. Why not take a look at the dispatchers. Here's the numbers. See, you save nine cops, and you don't spend a ton of dough." Said or unsaid: It's an election year. Make sure you do the right thing. We have a strong and active union in the city.

So, the council, either taking the righteous road of the first scenario, or the political road of the second, cut the dispatchers.

Cronin was out of town until the end-game machinations went down. I'm torn on this issue. I think it's important for top officials to be around at important times, and that probably includes budget time, especially this budget season. However, I look at it personally, and my family life is my top priority. I'm allowed to take vacations, and so is the chief. It might have been the best time for his family for any dozens of reasons. I don't think you blame him too much. And hell, a cell phone and a computer, and you should be all set at this point.

Anyway, Cronin pretty obviously feels the union ran an end-around by going to the council. It's not so much that the council chose dispatchers over officers, but that the union went to the council and the council made a move to cater to the union.

So, what's Cronin going to do? I don't think he really knows at this point. I don't him all that well, but I think he's a smart guy who won't make a spur-of-the-moment decision. He'll think this over, let the emotions on all sides settle a bit, and then make up his mind. But one thing he's pretty much already decided -- the union has more juice than he does.