ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

2/2 - Thursday, June 14, 2018

   

   

   

   

   

[plam]

Speeding LRV! I guess this is an analogue to why being an aviation test pilot is dangerous.

[JoeKW]

Nice shots

[Canard]

Thanks!

Question: on the radio, they talk to WRPS and refer to them as “Paid-Duty Officers”. Why is that?

My guess was to discriminate between regular officers, and the ones that are specifically requested to help out with testing? ie so a bunch of regular police don’t show up to an intersection to protect it?

It’s just weird to me because... everyone is paid to do their job. I’m a “Paid-Duty Mechanical Designer” but that’s not what my business card says

[timio]

Consider it like being contracted out during regular hours. The police officer still gets paid by the region, but Grandlinq has to pay the Region for the officer's time because they are removing them from their normal duties and the Region has to fill that time with someone else.

[trainspotter139]

Thanks!

Question: on the radio, they talk to WRPS and refer to them as “Paid-Duty Officers”. Why is that?

My guess was to discriminate between regular officers, and the ones that are specifically requested to help out with testing? ie so a bunch of regular police don’t show up to an intersection to protect it?

It’s just weird to me because... everyone is paid to do their job. I’m a “Paid-Duty Mechanical Designer” but that’s not what my business card says

The Paid-Duty Officers are typically called in for overtime and use whatever spare cruiser they have in the garage (like the Pride cruiser).

[Canard]

My question though is, like, why specifically do they call them that on the radio?

I’m paid too, and so are all GrandLinq employees. But they don’t call them “Paid LRV Operators”. So is my assumption correct it’s just to differentiate between normal police and those who are working for that day for GrandLinq?

[panamaniac]

I've always had the impression that "paid duty" is not referring to the police officer receiving pay, but rather to the fact that the third party hiring the officer from the police service is required to pay for those services.

[jeffster]

My question though is, like, why specifically do they call them that on the radio?

I’m paid too, and so are all GrandLinq employees. But they don’t call them “Paid LRV Operators”. So is my assumption correct it’s just to differentiate between normal police and those who are working for that day for GrandLinq?

https://www.wrps.on.ca/en/services-repor...ficer.aspx

They're hired officers. For some reason, I doubt this is "over-time" but may fall under some other employment agreement.

I am guessing you're correct when saying that it is to differentiate between regular police services versus privately paid officers.

[tomh009]

At least in most cities, a "paid duty officer" is an off-duty officer (ie outside normal working hours) that is contracted out to provide some kind of private services outside normal policing duties. They probably get paid overtime rates as the hourly rates are quite high ($70 or thereabouts).

[Canard]

Ok, but you get why I’m asking right? It’s just weird they don’t just say “Carl can you protect the intersection?” They always say “Paid-Duty Police Officers, please protect the Wilson Intersection”. Like it’s VERY CLEAR that they are being paid.

I fully understand that they’re paid separately or whatever, it’s just the fact that they announce it over and over that I find odd.

[trainspotter139]

Ok, but you get why I’m asking right? It’s just weird they don’t just say “Carl can you protect the intersection?” They always say “Paid-Duty Police Officers, please protect the Wilson Intersection”. Like it’s VERY CLEAR that they are being paid.

I fully understand that they’re paid separately or whatever, it’s just the fact that they announce it over and over that I find odd.

I think a lot of that is due to the fact that the Paid-Duty Police Officers are different every day while the testing team isn't. That and the fact that the radio protocol (that they don't follow as much as they should) is to not say names over the EDACS radio.

[panamaniac]

Ok, but you get why I’m asking right? It’s just weird they don’t just say “Carl can you protect the intersection?” They always say “Paid-Duty Police Officers, please protect the Wilson Intersection”. Like it’s VERY CLEAR that they are being paid.

I fully understand that they’re paid separately or whatever, it’s just the fact that they announce it over and over that I find odd.

Members of the public would be upset if they thought their tax dollars were being used to support "outside activities" by the cops.  Specifying "paid duty" puts, er ..., paid to that.

[Rainrider22]

LOL!  You make it sound like ours and Toronto's orders are the only ones Bombardier has ever done around the entire world.

They are doing just fine.  A little behind on our project, yes - but Kingston has handed a poorly-managed project from another plant and have turned it around incredibly rapidly.  Historically, Kingston has delivered on every single project in their entire history successfully.

Canard. Why are you laughing at my response. You are the first person on here to get upset if someone is even a little bit disrespectful in your view.  

May I remind you that New York city just shut bombardier out. Add Toronto et al.  You can laugh at me if you want but if this compnay docent get serious about how is manages itself, it's days are numbered . I truly hope I am wrong because I want a Canadian company to suceed. But right now. The reality is they are incompetent.  Put your bias a side and look at their unproven results.

At least in most cities, a "paid duty officer" is an off-duty officer (ie outside normal working hours) that is contracted out to provide some kind of private services outside normal policing duties. They probably get paid overtime rates as the hourly rates are quite high ($70 or thereabouts).

You are correct. Paid duty means the officer is being paid by the third party requesting the service. There is no direct impact on the police budget. The pay is shown on a separate T-4a for income. Tax which the officer must submitt for taxes.   The department will collect a separate amount of money for administration fees as well as a separate fee if a cruiser is utilized.

[Canard]

Members of the public would be upset if they thought their tax dollars were being used to support "outside activities" by the cops.  Specifying "paid duty" puts, er ..., paid to that.

How many people do you think are listening in to the radio feed?

You are correct. Paid duty means the officer is being paid by the third party requesting the service. There is no direct impact on the police budget. The pay is shown on a separate T-4a for income. Tax which the officer must submitt for taxes.   The department will collect a separate amount of money for administration fees as well as a separate fee if a cruiser is utilized.

Again, you've missed my point - I'm not disputing this and fully understand that they are being paid by GrandLinq.

What I'm questioning is why they over, and over, and over say "Paid Duty Police Officer" on the radio - a (for all intents and purposes) closed, private radio channel.  It just seems so strange to me.

Anyway, let's move on...