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HAMMONTON — Town Council has denied a request by police officers to donate some of their accumulated sick time to a fellow officer with cancer.

Patrolman Peter Hagerty was diagnosed with stage-two testicular cancer in the beginning of March.

The 36-year-old officer will be out of work for at least three months to recover from surgery, but Hagerty does not have enough sick and vacation days to cover that absence.

Hagerty used most of the time he had accumulated in his four years with the force to be with his wife, Eryn, and newborn son, Cole, after Cole was born three months premature 15 months ago.

Cole is fine now, his father said, but the family is faced with the likelihood of losing the bulk of Hagerty’s paycheck in the face of skyrocketing medical bills.

“The max I can get on disability will be almost $1,700 less a paycheck,” Hagerty said. “You can do the math. There’s not much more about it to say than that.”

Chief Frank Ingemi, with members of several area police departments in attendance Monday, asked Town Council to repeal an ordinance that prevents employees from being able to transfer their unused sick and vacation time to a colleague.

The town previously allowed such practices, but Mayor John DiDonato said it was banned after the process was abused multiple times.

Ingemi acknowledged the prior abuses but said the ordinance could be fine-tuned so the sick days could only be used to benefit an employee with a “catastrophic” health condition.

“These employees feel that they have earned this time and want to donate to help a fellow employee in a time of hardship,” Ingemi said.

“These are people who depend on each other every day. … I beg you (to allow them to do this).”

The Town Council did not.

Councilman James Bertino made a motion to approve an ordinance to grant employees permission to transfer up to 10 sick days to a colleague with a catastrophic health condition. But the motion was not seconded.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” explained DiDonato, adding that passing such an ordinance would make way for the resurfacing of the kinds of abuses, peer pressure, intimidation and financial issues that caused the practice to be banned in the first place.

The council did vote to support fundraising efforts for Hagerty to help cover the drop in his income while on disability. DiDonato offered to work with Ingemi to coordinate fundraising efforts.

Ingemi said there would be a lot of people unhappy with the council’s decision, but he said the department will turn its focus to fundraising.

“I know that the decision to do this was tough, due to the past abuses. But I really think they should’ve made an effort to do something different,” Ingemi said. “I will personally make sure (Hagerty) and his family do not experience any shortfalls while he is out.”

Following the council’s decision, Hagerty could be seen pacing in Town Hall’s lobby with his eyes toward the floor.

He said he was not angry with the outcome.

“Being angry doesn’t get you anywhere. I’m disappointed,” he said. “They have this kind of thing on the county level and at other departments. I’m disappointed we couldn’t do it here.”

Hagerty reserved his most emotional comments for his fellow officers.

“It was a good turnout tonight,” he said. “I appreciate them being here and what they were offering to do.”

27 comments:

• supportpete (1) posts 9:45 am

  A "Beef & Beer" Benefit has been set up for Officer Pete Hagerty. Saturday, June 20th 6p-9p at Dazzy O's. Open Bar, Buffet, DJ, 50/50, Chinese Auction and MORE! Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased in advance by visiting the Facebook group or contacting supportpete@live.com Thanks!

• daspado (2) posts 10:58 am

  Look, Officer Haggerty has the medical papers to prove his illness. How can he abuse it. Think about Mayor, it is not hard to do.

• quityourcrying (0) posts 9:59 am

  I love it when people post things without knowing what the are talking about. "SmelltheCrap" - Police Officers CAN'T collect State Disability like the rest of you bleeding heart liberals! Good luck Pete.

• regulrjoe (2) posts 6:49 am

  so as i see it... you are all (most ) missing the point! if you cant do it that way... find another way. fundraising is a good one. donations, breakfast's at both firehalls, for christ sake stop whinning about it and be more proactive about the approach. have a policemens ball for gods sake. stop whinning. your all grown men and women. to be honest with you.. the mayor is right. there was a lot of abuse over and over and now there is a rule put into place that curtails the abuse. good for " FIRST " for sticking to their guns, no pun intended. side bar good luck pete

• blueuniformmom (0) posts 3:05 pm

  Ashame to say I was born in Hammonton. Town council you all need to go bye-bye. Hope you and your families need help from someone in the near future and the people will turn you down. The police should never answer another call when you need help. Get well soon to the officer he needs lots of prayers.

• ruberooster (5) posts 5:48 pm

  hammonton, if you think you've got police/crime problems, how about the eht cop who was on duty while romancing a local prostitute at a local motel. wonder why he was never considered a suspect in the 4 prostitute murders? seems to me that someone of this ilk would fit such a profile even closer than terry oleson, jeff blitz ruined the guy's life with his no-evidence-and-grandstanding-bulshitz. how can he really sleep at nite?

• supportpete (1) posts 12:56 pm

  To everyone who has posted about supporting Pete, we thank you! There is a huge Facebook group for Pete (over 900 members strong and growing) and there are 2 ways to donate to him and his family. First, you can go to any TD Bank and make a donation. Secondly, at paypal.com, you can donate to supportpete@live.com Thanks!

• bigjack609 (64) posts 8:30 am

  Although this really sucks I am surprised that no one has posted a comment to find another way to help this family.Just because one idea will not work you don't stop!There are plenty of ways to help this family get through the hard times so lets stop,think and put our heads together and do what has to be done.The giving of sick time was easy,a just sign here type of thing,now the fellow officers have to do some work to put together some fund raisers from beef and beer to softball games.In other words get off your blue butts and help your brother in blue!

• peterbisher (10) posts 9:23 pm

  Its a shame how the police department wants to banned other employees of the force not too donate there sick time to a fellow officer.I can see how politics can play there part on the department.The policy needs too be changes with only restriction of abuse.Therefore not a sick individual that cruel that they would do that to him.I think he payed his time there transfer to another department.

• momoftwo (1) posts 8:18 pm

  Wow! Have to agree with some of the posts! Perhaps is Officer Hagerty was say..Officer Rodio or Officer Demarco..the outcome would have been different? This is nothing but an old boys club..always has been..always will be..until the money in that town dies out...sickening really..I am a federal employee and we are frequently asked to donate to fellow employees in need...and I do so graciously - because it's the right thing to do..be careful Mayor..what goes around comes around....hope you been getting your regular check ups....turn your head and cough....be a shame to have to leave your wife and child behind.

• Humanitarium (0) posts 7:33 pm

  Maybe if the officer had an Italian last name or a relative on the council, his sick time donation would have been approved. Having worked at the Regional Medical center, it was common for fellow employees to help each other out by donation of sick or personal time. The hospital recognized the need and the desire of the employees to help. This is a disgrace!!!! How can these people sleep at night? What goes around comes around......Wait until they need the help of a person willing to help.....Are they going to vote it down?

• oldguard (16) posts 6:39 pm

  What a travesty. That the good should suffer for the bad belongs to a different country in a different era. A well thought out and enforced policy of donated time works elsewhere so why not Hammonton? The old saw about the road to hell being paved with good intentions pales by comparison with the express train to hell for those who choose not to do the right thing when tough choices need to be made for humanitarian reasons. Mayor and council, shame on you! You are a disgrace to the voting public that eleced you. I'll bet they were in favor of allowing this officer donated time that costs nothing and would be such a help to him and his family. I hope they remember that when election time rolls around!

• DisappointedResident (0) posts 6:32 pm

  Wow. Mayor DiDonato has shown his true stripes. Why does his party keep attacking their own employees? 101.5 has made fun of Hammonton and our Mayor all day long. I'm embarassed for us all. Let's hope Hammonton First comes to its senses!!!! STOP attacking employees

• thinkfirst (2) posts 6:23 pm

  You are kidding, right? You would have more officers available to the city, with less sick time AND assist an officer with a catastrophic illness so he could get back on the job. How is this at all abusive? Council really gives a bad impression and I'm really sorry for you that live there, would not want these people on my team at all! Very best to Hagerty and his family. Hard to believe this is quality government. I thought it was For the People and By the people? This is what the people want! Bring it back up and petition the town to see how the TOWN feels about it-not just some knuckle heads afraid of "maybe" situations that MIGHT happen, deal with the REALITY in front of you. I hope the supportive family/team does not stop here! Raise hell and throw the heartless morons out come election time.

• insightful1 (0) posts 4:28 pm

  Hopefully Officer Hagerty will receive successful treatment and recover from this unfortunate diagnosis. Meanwhile, all officers scheduled for duty should have a sick-out and then we'll see who really has control of things.

• CriticalThinking (0) posts 3:29 pm

  Some people need to re-read the article. This guy has barely ANY sick time because his kid was born THREE months early. He hasn't "abused" sick time and the fact that Hammonton uses that as an excuse is really sad. Kudos to the police officers who asked to donate their time. THOSE men and women did so without being asked. And now Hammonton says No? Obviously this is not an election year there...

• SmelltheCrap (0) posts 2:31 pm

  Cry me a river. If they wouldn't abuse their time off they would have the necessary time needed. Stop tacking sick days onto your days off and your vacations and you'll have it when needed. Now do what the rest of the world does and apply for State Disability.

• samper (0) posts 1:22 pm

  It is a sign of good government when Mayor and Council are courageous enough to make difficult and unpopular decisions. This is one of those times. Everyone agrees that there were sick time abuses within the department. Did they object when the rules were changed? Police officers demand that everyone, except themselves, obey all laws. The lesson here is for all employees to save sick days for when they are really sick. It sounds like the Chief is offering to make up the officer's financial deficit. Good luck.

• jersey3730 (15) posts 11:15 am

  Prounion; While this is an outrage this has nothing to do with a 3rd party!!! You sound like someone bitter who was a member of the party tossed.

• Sunshine (0) posts 10:40 am

  This is crazy. These officers want to help one of their own and they aren't allowed to? If abuses happened in the past, it's because those who were supposed to be doing their job failed to oversee it properly. Now this officer has to suffer because of that? Our country is supposed to be helping its citizens who are trying to help themselves. This is the way to do it. I guess you have to be illegally here or just a plain old bum before you qualify for aid when you need it. This wouldn't cost anything from Hammonton. It would be donated by his fellow officers. What doesn't the committee understand?????? Let's all remember this when they come up for re-election. I mean it. Let's not forget this. And lets all pray for Officer Haggerty. Are we still allowed to do that?

• governmentunion (0) posts 9:08 am

  First, let's all pray that Officer Hagerty has a fast and full recovery! It is an unfortunate fact that the current administration in Hammonton is anti-employee. Who knows why? Maybe because, until recently, the administration has controlled most Unions (not PBA)and had their way. The hardwoking and honest employees have been sold out and the administration has taken advantage of it. Residents should support their employees. GWU

• nwalling (0) posts 9:03 am

  That is such a shame. Every officer that wants to help should call out sick on the same day and have a benefit for their fellow officer in need. That will teach the town a lesson!

• schicster (0) posts 8:47 am

  Why dont they see the obvious. At a time when cities are crying about paying accrued sick time at retirement, this is the opportunity to whittle down some of the time without city expense.

• Princess0550 (9) posts 8:14 am

  So sad!!! Shame on the ones who will not allow fellow officers to donate their time!!!

• prounion (0) posts 8:02 am

  Well thats what you get with third party people with money trying to run the town for their own personal gain and hurting the employees to help themselves. Why would you deny the officer when it dont cost the town anything? Because you dont care about people. Bertino obviously cares. I agree with watcher Shame on DiDonato Shame on Wuillermin Shame on Lewis Shame on Rodio Shame on Petrongolo Shame on Barberio.

• notpolitical (0) posts 6:50 am

  Hammonton First should change its name to Me First, Hammonton Second. Remember when these Clowns tried to fire the Police Chief and the residents came out against them and then they lost the legal battle? How much did that cost us? They just keep attacking their employees. What's next? Forced Furloughs? We citizens need to remember all of this in November!

• Watcher (0) posts 6:30 am

  Hammonton First DOES NOT CARE ABOUT EMPLOYEES. When will the citizens wake up and throw out these elitist bums? Kudos to Bertino! Obviously he cares about families and these tough economic times. DiDonato (and Hammonton First) has always been anti-worker. Listen to him when he talks about the road to hell - he is on it, he should know. SHAMEFUL.

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