The state police union rebuffed Gov. Deval Patrick’s attempts for cost cutting before an early-morning meeting today, saying Patrick hasn’t acted on easy savings available by reshuffling top brass.

Patrick plans to discuss furloughs and other cost-cutting measures with all state unions this morning to backfill a $600 million revenue shortfall in the budget.

“Someone dropped the ball here, whether it’s in his office or in the executive office of public safety,” said Rick Brown, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts. The union handed in a 20-page report in March detailing up to $13 million in potential savings through reducing the number of management positions.

Terrel Harris, spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety, said Secretary Kevin Burke has reviewed the report and may even use some suggestions. He wouldn’t say what those savings are.

Jay Gonzalez, secretary of administration and finance, said the governor is listening to all ideas.

“He is hoping to mitigate layoffs and reduce the need by asking employees to sacrifice through contract provisions,” Gonzalez said.

Patrick sent a letter to union heads Oct. 15 asking them to squeeze savings out of their current contracts.

Patrick has ordered managers to take a nine-day furlough and said he’d cut up to 2,000 state employees to make up the $600 million gap. He’s also asked legislators for expanded cutting powers so he can slash local aid.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1206730

“I could’ve had 500 members in here, or a thousand,” SPAM president Rick Brown told the Public Safety Committee during a hearing whose early hours featured light lawmaker attendance. The bill is a refiled version of one that died last session, and the latest round in a years-long struggle between the union and the department’s management staff. The state Superior Court found management’s actions legal under the current law, prompting the union to file what they say is a justified legislative fix.

After losing out last session, the union says the bill filed this year, by Public Safety Committee co-chair Sen. James Timilty, represents a compromise, giving the colonel more leeway by authorizing him to void any collectively bargained provisions if any member of the general public is in imminent danger. “We got beat to the punch last session,” Timilty told the News Service outside the hearing. Timilty said State Police Colonel Mark Delaney “spent a tremendous amount of energy two years ago” to defeat the bill. 

Through a spokesman, Public Safety Secretary Kevin Burke offered no comment.  “We’re not going to comment on anything collectively bargained,” said Terrel Harris. State Police Colonel Mark Delaney announced last month his plans to retire.  Delaney had been appointed superintendent of the State Police by Gov. Mitt Romney in June 2006.  The Massachusetts State Police force is the largest in New England, with 2,200 sworn officers and 500 civilians.