There is no end to the enjoyment of the top tier snarkery in this article. Frankly, this deserves an award (and I mean that with all sincerity). Bravo sir.
What John Edward Keough said. A superb bit of writing that lays bare the true motivations of Holden's actions in defiance of state law. Elitist, racist, disingenuous, and, ultimately, illuminated by your writing, transparent! Well done Bill!
On the shortage of Worcester active police, the policescorecard.org data shows up to 2022. Since then we’re down from 468 to 400 active officers while our population is up from 185,000 to 213,000. So the shortage is real, and with 50-60 officers eligible to retire this November the understaffing is headed to get worse.
Here’s what I wrote to our legislators:
Dear Members of the Joint Committee on Public Service and Members of the Worcester Delegation:
I am a Worcester resident writing to support H.3929, Worcester’s home rule petition to raise the maximum age for original appointment as a police officer through age 39.
Worcester should have the flexibility to widen its recruitment pool and respond to local conditions and urgent hiring needs.
Currently we have 400 active officers, which at our population of 213,000 gives us a ratio of just 18.7 police per 10,000 residents, well below the state-wide average of 24.2. With another 50-60 eligible to retire in November, our police staffing is at crisis levels.
Because the lead time from recruitment to full deployment can be measured in years, not months, this petition needs to move with urgency. Now, really. Worcester cannot afford to lose another hiring cycle while waiting for a local option that would simply widen the pool of qualified candidates.
Worcester’s petition was referred to the Joint Committee on Public Service in March, 2025.
I respectfully urge your support for and immediate action on this petition.
There is no end to the enjoyment of the top tier snarkery in this article. Frankly, this deserves an award (and I mean that with all sincerity). Bravo sir.
What John Edward Keough said. A superb bit of writing that lays bare the true motivations of Holden's actions in defiance of state law. Elitist, racist, disingenuous, and, ultimately, illuminated by your writing, transparent! Well done Bill!
Appreciate the Holden commentary!
On the shortage of Worcester active police, the policescorecard.org data shows up to 2022. Since then we’re down from 468 to 400 active officers while our population is up from 185,000 to 213,000. So the shortage is real, and with 50-60 officers eligible to retire this November the understaffing is headed to get worse.
Here’s what I wrote to our legislators:
Dear Members of the Joint Committee on Public Service and Members of the Worcester Delegation:
I am a Worcester resident writing to support H.3929, Worcester’s home rule petition to raise the maximum age for original appointment as a police officer through age 39.
Worcester should have the flexibility to widen its recruitment pool and respond to local conditions and urgent hiring needs.
Currently we have 400 active officers, which at our population of 213,000 gives us a ratio of just 18.7 police per 10,000 residents, well below the state-wide average of 24.2. With another 50-60 eligible to retire in November, our police staffing is at crisis levels.
Because the lead time from recruitment to full deployment can be measured in years, not months, this petition needs to move with urgency. Now, really. Worcester cannot afford to lose another hiring cycle while waiting for a local option that would simply widen the pool of qualified candidates.
Worcester’s petition was referred to the Joint Committee on Public Service in March, 2025.
I respectfully urge your support for and immediate action on this petition.
Thank you for all you're doing.
-- Name and address
Send to: Robyn.Kennedy@masenate.gov, James.O'Day@mahouse.gov, Michael.Moore@masenate.gov, Michael.Brady@masenate.gov, Dan.Ryan@mahouse.gov, carole.meehanoyama@masenate.gov
I caught the Morrowind reference so fast.