The Hiller Instinct: Peabody police 9/11 holiday

So, thank you, Peabody, for proving that there are always new frontiers of absurdity.

Let's be clear here: on September 11th--the day when national anxiety about terrorism is understandably at its highest, and the day when many people would be most reassured by a big police presence--Peabody has decided to give its police officers a paid holiday.

And they're also going to give their Police Department a 13 per cent pay hike over the next four years.

All the law enforcers who lost their lives on 9/11 are heroes...and so are all the policemen--and women--who work every day. But that doesn't mean we should give them the year off.

And the best way to mark 9/11 is by spending some time remembering it, not by spending time-and-a-quarter you can't afford.

Earth to Peabody: do you know the State has a $1.4 billion deficit? Are you aware a thousand state employees may lose their jobs, and that nearly everyone who has a job is worried about keeping it?

To get 9/11 off and their pay raise--Peabody Police have agreed to drug testing. I think the Peabody officials who negotiated this contract should have their blood tested right now.

I'm Andy Hiller and that's my instinct.

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