.Chiefs of the city’s police and fire departments announced they would retire before the end of the year, in hopes of saving the jobs of lower-level police officers who will otherwise be laid off under the 2010 comprehensive budget.
The 2010 budget has slated seven positions to be eliminated from both departments. By promoting officers within both the police and fire departments to fill the chiefs’ positions, at least one position at the lower levels will likely be saved, Commissioner of Public Safety Ron Kim said.
Chief of Police Edward Moore has served with the city’s police force since joining at the age of 19 in 1974, including the last 6-1/2 years as chief. Fire Chief Robert Cogan joined the fire department a year later, in 1975, and has been chief for 14 years. Moore said the exact date of his retirement has not yet been determined; Cogan will retire on Christmas Day....Moore also said he was motivated to retire by a desire to allow others to get from the department what he had.
"My 35 good years with this department have allowed me to raise a family and have a full career. I cannot in good conscience remain on the job while young officers who are just starting their families and careers face layoffs, especially in the current economy," he said
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Selflessness and Service
A major theme of our book is that self-interest does not explain everything in politics. Every day, citizens and public figures make sacrifices for something greater than themselves. An example comes from Saratoga Springs, New York, where the police chief and fire chief stepped down early in order to help others. The Saratogian reports:
