UNION HITS CITY ON NARC UNIT CUT

The Boston Police union that represents detectives has filed an unfair
labor practice against the city of Boston, accusing police department brass
of decimating the narcotics unit and leaving entire neighborhoods without
drug cops.

Earlier this year a dozen cops assigned to take down dealers and build
cases against narcotics bigshots were transferred and entire units were
shuttered. West Roxbury, Roslindale, Hyde Park and Jamaica Plain are being
covered by a single drug unit. Before the reshuffling, there were three units.

Narcotics officers in the South End are responsible for drug duties in
Brighton. Charlestown, which had two drug-related homicides this year, does
not have a dedicated narcotics unit.

The grievance deals with the issue of patrolmen filling slots historically
held by detectives. "Right now, detectives have been pushed out of the
unit," said union president Robert Kenney.

Boston police spokesman Sgt. Tom Sexton said the number of drug unit
investigators has been reduced, but that the focus of the force remains the
same. Sexton would not comment on the union's grievance, saying the BPD had
not been notified of its filing.

"We'll continue to discuss this matter in good faith," Commissioner
Kathleen M. O'Toole said.

In May, BPD Superintendent Paul Joyce said the reshuffling of the drug unit
was part of the plan to create a specialized squad -- the Street Violence
Suppression Unit -- whose mission will be to combat the gang bloodletting
and drug-related violence that has led to a rise in murders and riddled Hub
neighborhoods with bullets.

"We continue to address gangs, drugs and firearms violence as our
priorities and will continue to do so moving forward," he said.

But critics say the reorganization has led to a loss of investigative
experience rather than a rise in arrests. In recent weeks the Herald has
highlighted drug use on the Common, in the Public Garden and in other open
spaces, a scourge becoming widespread across the Hub.

"When you have a dedicated drug unit that is responsible for that area,
they get to know the dealers, the users and develop professional relations
that are critical to gathering intelligence," Kenney said. "The unfair
labor practice will bring it to the forefront."