Michael Rollins: Police officers, firefighters earn every penny of their pay
Re “Public pay: City Hall salaries, benefits dwarf those in private sector” (Page 1A, Dec. 9): My letter concerns only fire and police department wages. Your story showed Capt. Jesse Nicasio’s overtime compared to his regular wages. What you neglected to say was that the Modesto Fire Department, along with Modesto police, is understaffed.
The city needs to cover shifts, and this is where 99 percent of the overtime comes form. To stop the OT, hire more firefighters and police officers. It’s simple.
Keep in mind all the hours firefighters are spending away from their families. As with Sacramento’s Spencer Stone’s heroic actions, everyday the firefighter and police officers go to work they are putting their lives on the line for complete strangers. All of these brave people are heroes. Does your boss require you to be willing to put your life on the line every day?
When most people run away from danger, firefighters and law enforcement officers run toward it. They earn every penny they make and they are always looking for good people.
Michael Rollins, Turlock
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Michael Rollins: Police officers, firefighters earn every penny of their pay."