Security was tight last week in Boston as it hosted the Democratic National Convention where delegates officially nominated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) as the party's candidate for President. Law enforcement officials from the Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and state and county corrections agencies and others were all on hand to provide security and keep the peace while thousands of visitors swarmed the city.

But the provision of that security has caused some headaches for the 100-plus Massachusetts Department of Correction special operations officers who worked at the DNC.

Their union, the Massachusetts Corrections Officers Federated Union, has said it will expel them from membership for participating in the security detail. And, the DOC's leadership is looking into allegations of harassment against special operations officers who worked the detail.

"We had received some preliminary information regarding allegations that a staff member was being harassed, presumably for his participation in the DNC," said Massachusetts DOC Commissioner Kathleen Dennehy. "Just about everyone [in law enforcement] is involved this week in the DNC; it's very clear that the corrections officers' union took exception to participation in the DNC."

According to Steve Kenneway, President of MCOFU, there are several reasons for the union opposing participation by special operations officers in the voluntary detail at the DNC - chief among them was that the department did not approach the detail the way previous DOC administrations had.

"When the World Cup Soccer came to Foxborough [in 1994] we had COs on a voluntary basis accepting details for that. It was done by seniority; we have a provision that allows for that kind of detail [in our contract]. It should have been the same," Kenneway said.

Instead, the DOC wanted to use its tactical units.

But Kenneway claims that if the DOC leadership had allowed for the DNC details to be filled based on seniority (like at the World Cup) then the members' involvement in them would have been acceptable.

Other issues that the union has with the tactical members' involvement include that the DOC originally did not commit to liability coverage for the officers working the detail and that the department did not commit to filling any vacancies on the DOC roster back in May, when officers were asked to sign up for the details.

"She's using these men and women who should be behind the walls. Their job is to provide security for convicted felons in an already dangerously low-staffed department," said Kenneway.

According to Dennehy, however, the department has backfilled each roster vacancy due to the DNC details one-for-one. It has not filled other vacancies such as officers calling in for sick time.

"It has to be a vacancy on the roster attributable to the DNC. We activated them on Sunday and for the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift, 27 special operations positions were activated and 76 people called in sick system wide," said Dennehy, who added that the 27 vacancies were filled. "[Plus] those DNC expenditures are going to be reimbursed," said Dennehy.

Kenneway believes that only some of the vacancies have been backfilled.

Kenneway also said that the corrections officers' union wanted to follow the lead of the Boston Patrolmen's Union, which back in May was embroiled in a contract dispute with the city. Kenneway said that Boston police at the time were told not to accept DNC details, so the corrections officers' union followed suit.

Even though the police contract dispute was settled last week, Kenneway said the other outstanding issues were reason enough for the MCOFU to oppose participation by the tactical officers in the details.

If union membership is revoked for the 112 tactical officers who volunteered for the details, it means that they will not be able to participate in union activities, such as barbeques and parties. They will continue to be represented by the union, Kenneway said, and will still retain their benefits, such as dental and eye care coverage. But, Kenneway said, the union is looking into raising the co-pay amounts for non-union members.

Dennehy, however, is concerned about allegations of possible harassment against officers and DOC employees.

Because of previous incidents of violence against some officers, Dennehy last week ordered extra security on the DOC property where the special operations officers' vehicles would be parked during the DNC.

"We asked for security to protect automobiles parked in those areas based on concerns posed to us by special ops' members. I think it's a reflection of the degree of intimidation that some of these members [of the union] have been subjected to," said Dennehy.

Kenneway has said that he knows nothing about intimidation of officers who participated in security for the DNC or otherwise.

Dennehy explained further that in recent weeks some union members and investigators have had their cars "keyed" and tires slashed in the DOC parking lots. Dennehy said any instance or allegation of destruction of personal property will be investigated.

Also, in relation to the DNC, Dennehy drafted a memo last week to all employees reminding them of their obligation to report any instance of violence against anyone.

"Let's face it, it is a form of workplace violence," she said.

But Dennehy is also quick to point out that not all union members are responsible for these incidents.

"I think it's important that we recognize that it's a very small percentage of employees who resort to this type of behavior. We are very proud of the staff who come to work every day; these are not easy jobs. And, this week we are particularly proud of those representing us by working in concert with other law enforcement [at the DNC]. They are representing the department in the best possible way," she said.