Posted by Wayne G. Barber
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| Police Unions are very happy, Photo credit GOLOCALPROV.COM |
Drive by Governor Gina Raimondo’s house on the East Side of Providence late at night, and outside each evening will be parked a Rhode Island State Trooper sitting in an unmarked SUV, or in a State Police vehicle.
Raimondo is the first Governor in Rhode Island to request 24-hour security coverage -- at more than $40,000 per monthly in security costs. Under previous administrations, governors received 24-hour protection for limited periods of time. Governor Bruce Sundlun received full-time coverage after his administration closed the credit unions in 1991, during the banking crisis. In addition, on a few occasions, Governor Donald Carcieri had round-the-clock coverage due to specific security threats.
However, no governor has had it 24/7 - until now.
A GoLocal investigation found that the taxpayer cost of providing security for Raimondo has totaled $1,269,431, since her taking office --from January 1, 2015, through June 24, 2017.
An Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request by GoLocal secured the security costs, including 29-pages of overtime sheets from the Rhode Island State Police. Raimondo's office refused repeated requests for comment.
The costs break down into two categories - the budgeted cost of the Governor’s security detail and the additional cost of the overtime.
Over the past two-and-a-half-years, the Governor’s security units’ salary from January 6, 2015, to the date of the request for the documents, June 24, 2017, included payments to seven different State Troopers.
Seven members of the State Police have been assigned to Raimondo’s day-time security for her tenure. Under previous governors — from Ed DiPrete to Lincoln Chafee, just two officers were assigned, and other troopers would be assigned for vacations.
The top paid trooper is Lt. Paul Sikorsky — his net salary during the period of Raimondo’s tenure is just under $300,000 ($299,494.15) over the two-and-a-half years.
Major Timothy Sanzi of the Rhode Island State Police said that Raimondo faces a “wide variety of potential threats.”
State Police Officer Steven Haynes’ time was valued at $110,352.22 — he also worked on Governor Lincoln Chafee’s detail, but Chafee’s detail was confined to only daytime assignments. The only time Chafee was staffed 24/7 by the Rhode Island State Police was during out-of-state travel or during an emergency period, such as natural disasters or blizzards.
Other members of the State Police:
Michael Doherty’s time was valued at $53,399.30.
Brent Wilks: $57,086.46
Peter Filuminia: $33,545.23
Kimberly Pitts-Wiley: $7,810.38
Erik Mills: $7,810.38
Source: GOLOCALPROV.COM
The top paid trooper is Lt. Paul Sikorsky — his net salary during the period of Raimondo’s tenure is just under $300,000 ($299,494.15) over the two-and-a-half years.
As long as I still have my health I truly enjoy a fresh summertime country breakfast after a heavy thunderstorm replenished our earth. Yes, barefoot at 66 in the cool moist grass and clover and hand pick our 6 varieties of blueberries and our local honey on some oatmeal with a piping cup of Maxwell House Coffee, half and half, no sugar and listen to the many wild animals (Garter Snake) under the bird net and (Chipmunks) that I share my Strawberries, Rasberries and Blueberries with and birds from the many bird feeders in our part of the woods. No cell phone in sight and take in the moist air,give thanks for all that we have in our Great Country. We all have many choices in our journey and I am very happy with the one's I have made. Wayne
