Today's (Monday May 14, 2007) New York Post has an "Exclusive" story on Herman Lamison (owner of the home pictured left), a Southampton Village cop who earns $1.3 million/year doing security work for wealthy patrons along with his assigned police duties.
From the NY Post;
" Meet Long Island's million-dollar cop, a Southampton village detective who reeled in a whopping $1.3 million annual salary through side jobs for tony clientele.
"Officer Herman Lamison already rakes in well over $100,000 yearly for his police work. But he's earned hundreds of thousands more performing secondary jobs for local cash-flush residents - tending to their estates, providing security and generally offering them peace of mind, records show.
"And Lamison is not alone.
"As NYPD cops groan about their appalling $25,000-a-year starting salary, Lamison and his colleagues, especially those employed by small East End departments, are living like the glamorous residents they've sworn to protect and serve.
"Lamison, a Southampton native on the force since 1986, uses his stunning income to fund a plush mansion with a three-car garage in the prestigious Parrish Pond subdivision and several other properties, according to records.
"He declined to comment.
"Other current or former East End cops are churning out big bucks through such businesses as Kona Security, Fortress Security and Pondview Services.
"They are setting up shop for a reason. Many mansion owners want to hire local cops to check in on their estates during the off season to guard against theft, burst pipes and squatters...
"Officer Herman Lamison already rakes in well over $100,000 yearly for his police work. But he's earned hundreds of thousands more performing secondary jobs for local cash-flush residents - tending to their estates, providing security and generally offering them peace of mind, records show.
"And Lamison is not alone.
"As NYPD cops groan about their appalling $25,000-a-year starting salary, Lamison and his colleagues, especially those employed by small East End departments, are living like the glamorous residents they've sworn to protect and serve.
"Lamison, a Southampton native on the force since 1986, uses his stunning income to fund a plush mansion with a three-car garage in the prestigious Parrish Pond subdivision and several other properties, according to records.
"He declined to comment.
"Other current or former East End cops are churning out big bucks through such businesses as Kona Security, Fortress Security and Pondview Services.
"They are setting up shop for a reason. Many mansion owners want to hire local cops to check in on their estates during the off season to guard against theft, burst pipes and squatters...
"...Lamison's crew was noted for throwing filmmaker Michael Moore off the property during an attempted filming in 1998."
I like him already. If the owner of that property wanted Moore to be able to film there, he wouldn't have had security remove him. They were just doing their job.
What's wrong with a guy making an honest living from a legitimate side job? To me, Herman Lamison is a modern day Horatio Alger story. The media should be celebrating this guy instead of trying to stir up class envy at his expense.
See the entire story:
