Politics & Government

DeNapoli: I Believe I Earned 100 Percent Pay

Watch a video clip of Robert DeNapoli telling City Council members just how difficult the negotiations for his benefit package have been for him.

As was reported Tuesday on Woburn Patch, injured Woburn Police Officer Robert DeNapoli spoke to City Council on Monday night about his struggle to heal following his 2011 shooting, and his struggle to reach an agreement on a benefits package.


"I have not been able to get over my shooting," said DeNapoli during the meeting. "I haven't even dealt with my court case yet. I haven't even gotten over (the 2010 death of Officer) Jack Maguire. I was there that night. I haven't had the opportunity."

DeNapoli said he met with Mayor Scott Galvin once in person and spoke to him twice over the phone in recent weeks. The injured officer said the talks were cordial, but the two sides were not close to an agreement.

The City Council previously approved a package that would have allowed DeNapoli to retire at his current age of 52 and receive 100 percent of the pay he would have received until he is 65. Following that age, he would have received a disability pension equal to 100 percent of his pay for the remainder of his life. That package, however, was vetoed on Friday.

Mayor Galvin proposal was similar, but would have reduced DeNapoli's payments to 80 percent pay after the age of 65. 

"When I talked to (Galvin), I told him I had not had a very good week, and you're asking a guy who is not in very good condition now to take less than was offered. I've already sacrificed and you want me to sacrifice more. It was hard for me to deal with that," said DeNapoli. "I truly believe I deserve 100 percent. And I shouldn't even say deserve, because I don't mean it that way. I mean earned it."

To watch a portion of DeNapoli's address to the City Council, watch the above video.


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