Solidarity

This began as a sort of behind the scenes view of a police station in South Florida; some personalities, some historical elements, some memorializing of lost friends. I let the project lapse for a while as I attempted, too soon apparently, to get back to normalcy. Now back on light duty my comrades and I face a new struggle. We received a "pay cut" in the form of mandatory payroll deductions to contribute to insurance and retirement benefits in 2010. Then in 2011 had small cost of living increases taken away, and lost Holidays, half of a shift work differential payment and 50% cut in overtime payment for mandatory off duty court activities ( just that last one accounted for about 1/3 of my income in 2009) "On paper" the 2011 "Cut" was 10% but for night shift and afternoon shift officers it was more like an effective 30~35% income loss! This was accepted by our bargaining unit to prevent the threatened layoff of 300 officers. On the heels of that cut the mayor was pushing for another 5% contribution to the insurance benefit. The County Commissioners did not approve this measure and in response the Mayor is cutting the 300. A list of officers who have offered their lives to serve this community since 2008 (and subsequently hired officers) are losing their jobs. The list was compiled well over a year ago but has finally been handed down. I am continuing this project with portraits of these individuals and with their cooperation, their families. I intend to put faces to these numbers. I want someone to see these people, the casualties of one man's war being waged against the men and women who face injury and death every day to keep safe the streets of our community.