The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the city’s new contract with the El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association that includes a 1.25 percent cost-of-living wage increase and other benefits.
The wage increase contained in the collective bargaining agreement for 2014-2018 goes into effect Sunday.
Ron Martin, president of the police union, affirmed the organization’s support for the new contract.
Deputy City Manager David Almonte, who oversees public safety and community services, said after the meeting that the new contract had the support of 80 percent of the police association members.
“They voted on it, and 399 voted for it and 99 voted against it,” Almonte said. “That’s a pretty approval rate.”
Wages for El Paso city police officers were calculated according to a formula that looks at what six other cities pay their police and adjusted for cost-of-living.
“We would not pay them the highest wage nor did we want to pay them the lowest,” Almonte said. “El Paso was in the middle.”
Under the contract, the percentage of police that will be tested randomly for drugs was expanded from 33 percent to 40 percent. “Drug-testing is not an issue, it’s more of a cost item for the department,” Almonte said.
Almonte said the collective bargaining agreement is beneficial to police and to the taxpayers.
During the meeting, Mayor Oscar Leeser thanked Police Chief Greg Allen and his department for their service to the community. Allen was not at the City Council meeting.
“We had the safest city (designation) again for a city of 500,000 or more in 2013,” Leeser said.
Earlier this month, the El Paso County Commissioners Court approved its new labor contract with the El Paso County Sheriffs Officer’s Association, also after concluding a lengthy negotiation process.
Other 2014-2018 police contract highlights include:
• Police officers who advance to detective will be increased one pay level. Previously, only their title changed.
• The yearly detective clothing allowance went from $450 to $475.
• Paid holiday leave went from overtime pay to straight time pay.
• Education incentives were increased by $25 per month to encourage officers to pursue associate, bachelor and master’s degrees.
• Officers will participate in a physical fitness program to stay in shape throughout their careers. Before that, there was no required physical fitness standard to meet after graduating from the police academy.
Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at 546-6140.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_26918342/el-paso-police-pay-increase-takes-effect-sunday