Our MacIver News Service is digging into the costs associated with the recent rukus in Madison. For at least one public employee, the turmoil was quite profitable.
State Capitol Police Overtime Pay Tops $200k for Month of Unrest
One State Capitol Police Sergeant made more than $10,000 in overtime during the month-long protests in Madison, Wisconsin.
From Feb 13 to March 12, 2011, Police Sergeant Dave Horton took home $10, 475.31 in overtime pay, in addition to his $5,627.52 in regular salary.
According to documents obtained by the MacIver News Service, from the start to finish of the massive protest rallies in Madison, Capitol Police spent an extra $214,260.32 on personnel expenses.
That amount covered 5,441.80 overtime hours, 4,328.33 night differential hours, and 2,967 weekend differential hours, figures show.
Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, now known as 2011 Wis. Act 10, made significant changes to bargaining power of the state’s public employee unions. The resulting public demonstrations in and outside of the Capitol Building proved quite disruptive and even violent at times, necessitating a large police presence. During the ordeal, the relatively-small Capitol Police force was augmented with law enforcement personnel from throughout the state.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Albert ordered the Wisconsin Capitol cleared March 4th after protesters occupied the building for more than two weeks. The Judge also ordered the Capitol open as usual during normal business hours, scrapping the limitations placed on visitors at the beginning of the month. Protests continued for days after the legislation was signed into law by Governor Walker and additional larger rallies have been held every weekend in March.
According to records obtained by the MacIver News Service, 46 Capitol police officers were on the payroll for the four weeks in question. All but 6 worked overtime during that period.