Press Release 9/29/99

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PRESS RELEASE: September 29, 1999
President: D. Kevin Hayes; Beeper: (617) 546-2288
Vice-President: Louis Rosa
Secretary/Treasurer: Peter McTague
The MIT Campus Police Association, which serves as the lawful collective bargaining agent for all patrol officers employed by MIT, has issued the results of a survey by it of its members concerning the management of the MIT Campus Police Department. The survey, which addressed 12 separate areas of concern, including morale, communications, health and safety, leadership, respect for the patrol force, teamwork, rewards for service, and relationships, was sent to 38 members of the patrol force. Of 38 surveys completed and returned, officers overwhelmingly decried police management in all areas of the survey. Based upon the survey answers, all 38 officers also voted "NO CONFIDENCE" in the Police Chief to address and correct the pervasive departmental problems.
The results of the survey reflect the long standing discontent within the ranks of Police Officers at MIT over the treatment by police management. The members of the Association believe that the police department's approach to management. is negative and obstructive. Instead of trying to facilitate to Officers' jobs, management. seems determined to demean and deride Officers in the performance of their important public safety functions. As a result, morale has plummeted, and many officers, particularly younger ones, have left for other police jobs offering higher pay and more progressive management.
The MIT Campus Police Association is currently locked in an important round of collective bargaining negotiations with MIT. Many of the issues in dispute, including involuntary overtime on scheduled days off, due process protections against arbitrary managerial actions, adequate compensation, and other quality of life issues, are those out of which the disturbing survey results arose.
The Association remains committed to providing high quality public safety issues to the MIT Campus Community, and to achieving a fair and dignified working relationship with the management. of MIT.
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