Special Report: What a Waste: Quinn Bill

This is your police force... This is your police force under the Quinn Bill, a plan to get cops to go back to school in return for raises.

Lt. Joseph Gillespie, Pres., Boston Police Superior Officers Federation
"In turn, we get a better police officer and a better performance from their police officers."

State and local government split the cost. The price tag so far -- $100 million. Is it worth it? We asked the chancellor of higher education.

Gill
"A hundred million bucks... the taxpayers didn't get much for that? That's right."

The State Department of Higher Education says three Massachusetts colleges just about cornered the market on Quinn Bill education in large part by offering high volume and low quality.

Gill
"...That they were cash cows..."

Dan Hausle
"Cash cows? Diploma mills essentially?"

Gill
"Diploma mills."

A 2001 report to the state says the biggest problem with many Quinn Bill degrees are too many life-experience credits, essentially giving cops credits simply for being cops. Too many courses taught by teachers without degrees, sometimes the officers own bosses. And too many courses that were just too easy.

Stephen Tocco, Chairman, Board of Higher Education
"I do think the original intent of the program made some sense. I think the oversight became lacking and it got away from everybody."

Dr. Jerry Hirsch admits his Western New England College was one of those cashing in on the old system.

Dan Hausle
"In one of the reports, they said that a lot of these programs were becoming cash cows... to universities...

Dr. Jerry Hirsch, Provost, Western New England College
"That's not the intent..."

Dan Hausle
"But was it the result?"

Dr. Jerry Hirsch, Provost
"You try to make money on all your programs."

Even if the college courses are fixed, some say Quinn Bill incentives are too rich. In the real world, an employer might pay for your education and expect that to help you get a better job with better pay. But the Quinn Bill automatically gives cops, who get a degree, a 10, 20 or 25 percent raise for the rest of their careers and right into retirement.

Sam Tyler says it's too much. He's president of a think tank that crunches numbers for all kinds of government services.

Dan Hausle
"Are the taxpayers getting anywhere close to their moneys’ worth here?"

Sam Tyler, Boston Municipal Research Bureau
"I think there's an acknowledgement that this is too costly, it's not commensurate with any benefits taxpayers are receiving and it's time for a change."

But police union rep Joe Gillespie says that wouldn't be fair to cops across the state, who've negotiated their pay based on the assumption Quinn Bill incentives are part of the deal.

Dan Hausle
"In these tough budget times, can we afford a program like this?"

Lt. Joseph Gillespie
"I think maybe people need to look elsewhere and see what else can be cut rather than looking to cutting a benefit that was negotiated collectively through collective bargaining and that benefits were given up for."

Late last week the Board of Higher Education approved tougher standards for Quinn Bill degrees and that appears to be enough for the Romney administration.

Some say Romney is saving the Quinn bill from his budget ax as a political favor to police unions, who supported him in the election. The governor's people say that's not so, they say the governor simply believes that a better-educated police force is important, particularly in this complicated post 9-11 world.

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