Boston Police Unions Demand Long Guns, Other Equipment
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Boston police unions are demanding long guns, larger ammunition magazines, helmets and other equipment, citing the killings of officers worldwide.
The Boston Herald reports that the presidents of the three unions representing city police sent a letter with their demands to Police Commissioner William Evans.
The letter reads, in part, "You can sing 'Cumbia' or 'we shall overcome' until the cows come home but that won't stop a rifle round aimed at a police officer's chest!"
Evans said that he received the letter and department officials are considering the demands. Evans says the safety of his officers is one of his top concerns.
"In light of recent national events, the union leadership has expressed concerns regarding officer safety," Evans said in a statement. "Keeping my officers safe is always foremost in my thoughts and I take the concerns of the unions seriously."
Mayor Marty Walsh says he was taken aback by the wording in the letter and doesn't believe it reflects how all officers feel, but he says he takes their safety seriously.
"We have the best trained police department in the country, we have the equipment for them, if we need to make sure they have more equipment then that's my responsibility as Mayor to make sure they have it," Walsh said. "And if the officers feel like they're unsafe, we have to make sure they feel safe because they do a very important job."
The presidents of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, Boston Police Superior Officers Federation and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society said in the letter that police officers are being murdered "worldwide" and their safety is being threatened by terrorists putting officers' personal information online
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