Cops demanding pay raises picket political fund-raiser

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By John Byrne / Post-Tribune staff writer

GARY — A gauntlet of picketing Lake County police officers greeted attendees of Lake County Council President Will Smith’s fund-raiser on Friday.

About 60 officers carrying signs demanding pay raises challenged people not enter the event at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center.

Lake County Police Association Local 72 organized the picket because yearlong contract negotiations between police and the County Council have broken down, according to Officer Dan Murchek, union president.

The sticking point is salaries. County merit officers have not received a salary increase in seven years. They are the lowest-paid police in the county, according to Murchek. <snip>

http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/03-19-05_z1_news_10.html

[fasttense]

1. What, what, they want money for what they do?

Risk their lives for our property and safety. They want to get paid for that? The lazy discontented rabble should be glad to look after their betters.