Looks like their pay is very much in line (or better) than for police and fire departments out here. Note: this does NOT appear to include overtime!
The reported across-the-board wage increases do not tell the whole story. To illustrate, you will note below two examples, one an urban community and the other a suburban community. The numbers have been rounded slightly downward for ease of computation and illustration.
First, the urban community. With a starting police salary of $30,000, there is a maximum of $76,000 in year 10. This represents a $46,000 increase over 10 years, or more than 150 percent, for an average in excess of 15 percent per year.
In the suburban community, we have a starting salary of $33,000, which reaches a maximum of $90,000 in the 7th year, for an increase of $57,000, or a 172 percent increase, which is more than 24 percent per year.
But wait, it gets better. Or I should say, worse. The top salaries noted of $76,000 and $90,000 respectively, will be increasing during the working career of the police officer, so that in the case of the urban community with the 10 year guide, and assuming continuing interest arbitration awards of 4 percent, that guide will have increased to $112,000 at the top step. In the case of the suburban community with the 7 step guide, such guide will have increased (assuming 4 percent interest arbitration awards) to $118,000.
In the case of the suburban community, assuming 4 percent interest arbitration awards continue, the top step patrolman will be over $100,000 by 2010.
