Cops rake it in amid crime wave

Police officers are almost doubling their salaries as they rack up overtime hours fighting the island’s spiralling violence.

Some officers are notching up so much overtime that they are taking home more than $10,000 a month — equivalent to more than $120,000 a year. It means they are earning more than some of their bosses.

The huge overtime bill comes as manpower has been increased to maximum levels in a bid to try to restore peace in our communities. There have already been more than 100 firearms incidents this year.

Police constables are said to be “loving the extra cash” as their average starting salary is about $70,000 a year — just under $6,000 a month.

Officers earning the most money out of the recent spate of shootings are those who have been deployed to the serious crime unit and police support unit to help boost numbers.

But when there is a serious incident, such as a shooting, all officers are called upon to fill any shortfalls. This includes off duty officers who are expected to respond from home.

Police sources say most officers are happy to “cash in” on the extra shifts as, in the words of one source, they know their can “seriously boost their wages”. There is said to be so much overtime up for grabs that officers can pick and choose the additional hours they work.

There are currently about 460 full-time officers, from Bermuda and overseas, operating on a three-shift system: days, evenings and nights. Police constables get paid an hourly overtime rate, while higher ranking officers are paid a set salary, regardless of hours worked.

Officers are paid double or even triple time for their overtime hours, depending on whether they work on their days off and whether they have to report to work at short notice.

The cash for overtime is being called a “necessary expense” to ensure crimes are investigated properly, with officers on the streets being more important than dollars saved.

This comes just two years after widespread reports about a police overtime ban and a manpower shortage, particularly in the evenings and at night.

Purse strings

Government controls the purse strings of the police force, including salaries and other budget matters. This year’s annual police budget is $65.7 million, up from $60.5 million last year, and about 90 per cent of it is spent on salaries.

Senator Michael Dunkley, shadow minister for public safety, said it was important to support the police as they targeted key crime fighting areas.

He said: “In light of the serious situation that we are in, there is a real need for manpower on the streets.

“It is up to the Police Commissioner to use his best judgment to get the job done. I am sure the police are doing all they can to meet the challenges while monitoring their budget.

“We are suffering from an upsurge in violence and we have to deal with it.  We don’t have police officers waiting on the sidelines, we have to use the resources we already have. This is the challenge that we are currently facing.”

Only last week Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva announced soldiers were being drafted in from the Bermuda Regiment’s boat troop to help police the marine unit. Throughout the summer nine soldiers will work alongside officers in police boats as and when needed.

Police spokesman Robin Simmons said: “There has been a significant escalation in gun related crimes in the past two years, and this is reflected in the crime figures which have been released to the public by the Bermuda Police Service.

“The Bermuda Police Service is committed to allocating the appropriate resources to tackle all criminal activity, including gun related crimes.

“The Bermuda Police Service constantly monitors the hours worked by officers and would address any excessive overtime.”

Minister of Home Affairs David Burch did not respond for our request for comment yesterday.