The Atherton Police Department and their union, the Atherton Police Officer's Association, have gotten pretty active lately in their campaign to keep the Atherton Police Department intact in the wake of outsourcing initiatives spearheaded by Mayor Kathy McKeithen.

No less than three press announcements have gone out in the past week, about such topics as apprehending a petty criminal in San Bruno (what this has to do with helping Atherton residents, I do not know), a Lindenwood Home Owner's Meeting in which they extolled the virtues of an independent police department, and the announcement that there will now be an Atherton Police newsletter published (presumably with taxpayer money) along with the Athertonian as a way of increasing visibility of the police department.

Why? The union is going to try to get keeping the police department intact on the ballot, and use their money and clout to propagandize the issue.

A very valid question might be asked. Why do they care? After all, in San Carlos, all the outsourced officers were picked up as Sheriff's employees. What's the difference?

The reason they care so much is actually the same reason why the department should be outsourced. The pension plan in Atherton is quite different than the county-wide pension plan. No health care for life in the county if you just work as a police officer for a single day. A tiered system. Lower benefits. Atherton truly has the cadillac plan. Atherton even pays the part of the plan meant for the employee's contribution.

We can't afford it. They don't want to do without it.

Will the Atherton Police Officer's Association ever admit the real reason they don't want to get outsourced (i.e., greed)? Or simply propagandize service and safety, all the while spearheading attacks against the likes of Kathy McKeithen and John Buckheit?

You be the judge.