Extortion by own men in Blue. WHy do public employees ( that is what cops, firefighters, teachers, etc are0 get higher benefit packages than private sector workers? Time to have taxpayers in this country wise up and curtail the hgigh road tide give to all public employees.

Extortion? You don't know what you are talking about Anon. What makes you think that public employees always get "higher benefit packages" than those of their private sector peers? I don't think you know much about how benefits are doled out across the board. I also have my doubts you even read the article.

The police just hurt the rest of Provo City Employees. The administration will pay for this by taking benifits from the other employees.

Our officers put their lives on the line for this community. They deserve to be supported. It is ridiculous to require them to pay $400 out of their salaries for their own retirement programs. Other police forces throughout the state do not require that contribution. It's time for Provo to have the tools to recruit and retain good officers and not lose them to other communities that do not require that contribution from their police force. Good move Provo Council. It was the right decision to make.

It sounds like the police department has at least 8 openings. Maybe you should transfer over if its so much better than where you are.

It's ridiculous that they are required to pay $400 for retirment? How many of us in the Private Sector have a "Pension" that guarantees our retirments? We dont' we contribute to 401k accounts and other retirement vehicles to hopefully make sure we have a little something in the bank when we do retire. It's pretty amazing the liabilities that are buidling up across the nation in these types of accounts that will one day come due. The only way to fund them is with higher taxes as Pension managers will NOT be able to get large enough excess returns in the market to make up the gaps in the plans over time. Also the argument of "public" servant is a little disengenuous. When was the last time you got "paid" for your service? It's an oxymoron, its a job that they choose to do (and I'm grateful for the work they do) everyone makes a choice in the profession they choose. Some pay better than others but no one is compelled/forced to be an officer or firefigher or public employee.

Well, how many of us are trying to live on what police officers make. They regularly qualify for the city's low and moderate income housing incentives, not to mention free lunch for their kids at school.

These people are not our slaves--they have the ability to do other things. If we value their service, we have to pay an appropriate rate for it.

Frankly, one of the few reasons many of them stick with it is because of the pension plan.

It's about time Police Officers get the money they deserve, personally I think it's an insult to give them anything less! See how much the public would complain and whine if the police force decided not to go to work tomorrow, would these complainers be willing to put themselves in harms way to protect and serve? I doubt it, way to go City Council!! I think we should all thank a cop any chance we get!!

The Provo city Police Officers and their cronies are doing what they have always done...taking care of their own... I wish we could do something about funding their "jack ass" attitude and then maybe this would not seem like such an insult.