Straight answers on P/O promotions and any pending pay raise.

[EdmondExley]

First of all Mike I would like to congratulate you on your recent election as president of PANO. If the changes you have instituted in your first several months as president are any indication of your long range plans then the organization is definitely headed in the right direction. Though I have not always agreed with you I have always found you to be intelligent, well spoken and articulate. In addition I have no question about your motives and find you to be a person who genuinely cares about his brother officers and the issues that affect them on a daily basis. All of that said I have a few questions regarding issues that I am surprised you have not addressed.

First of all I would like to know the status of any future P/O II-IV promotions and what if any changes or exceptions are being made to the criteria for promotion. It is no secret that many of those persons on the lists posted on this site are about to be ineligible due to the lists not being extended. Does PANO plan to address this and if so what steps will be taken to ensure that ALL persons who attended the class will be promoted? I say this because I find it hard to believe that we have an academy capable of offering the necessary classes in a timely manner. Personally I would implore both PANO and FOP to petition both the Superintendent and Civil Service to change the rules and make these promotions AUTOMATIC once the necessary time on the department is served. Along those lines I would hope in the round of coming promotions the city sees fit to promote EVERY officer who has EVER taken the necessary classes to P/O II-IV, assuming they have the necessary time in grade.

Second I would like some kind of information, aside form baseless rumors and innuendo regarding a possible pay raise. I have seen it eluded to, on both this site and signal26.com, that a 10% raise is in the works. I have also heard rumors abounding that JPSO has recently approved a 42K starting salary for entry-level patrol deputies. If that is the case then a 10% raise is a slap in the face at the minimum and not likely to significantly remedy the ongoing problems of hiring and/or retention. Realistically this department needs somewhere in the neighborhood of a 40% raise across the board to be competitive and bring us in line with the inflated cost of living in the post Katrina era.

Donavan constantly hints at both of these issues on the other site, but he refuses to elaborate, like this is some type of “super secret” information. Sorry but as a member of both PANO and FOP I feel I have a right a RIGHT to be told about any progress made regarding these matters. Hopefully you feel the same and can provide some factual information regarding both issues.


At any rate Mike, thanks for your hard work and I look forward to your response.

[Mike Glasser]

Thanks for the kind remarks, and one piece of advice. Lose the glasses.
Seriously, as for P/O II, II, and IV promotions.
I consider these promotions to be one of the most important issues, and coincidentally, one of the most easily fixed. In addressing the issue of P/O Promos, I first addressed the issue of the current eligibility rosters. #1, let's see who they say is currently eligible. I posted the lists on the PANO website so that everyone would know where they stand as of today. You'll notice that some of the lists expire on July 31, 2006. I checked with Civil Service Director Mike Madary who assured me the the list WILL be extended till next year. So that issue is moot. #2, As for those officers who have not been able to take the classes, and are therefore not on the current eligibility roster. Captain Demma has assured me that there is a supervisors class about to begin at the Academy, that it will be brief, and that right after will be the next P/O II, II, and IV classes. I have spoken to a number of officers who have performed as instructors in past P/O II, II and IV classes at the Academy. They all have agreed, that if the Academy does not offer these classes very soon, they agreed to teach the same classes, hosted by PANO, for free, to all interested officers, (PANO members or not). The goal is to get as many officers eligible as soon as poossible. Civil Service says that would be fine with them. I expect to meet with Chief Riley very soon and address this issue. I will let you know what he says the moment I know.

[Mike Glasser]

I agree, that it would be better to make the P/O II, III, IV Promos a strictly tenure-based raise like the step raises we currently have at the 5 year increments, and I will certainly ask the Superintendent about that as well. In summary, my first goal will be to get as many officers eligible for the raises as soon as possible, and then to get the promotions made. I'm sure the Superintendent would agree how important that will be in retaining officers but more importantly, that the affected officers have earned those raises and then some. It is just the right thing to do.

On the issue of the pay raise. I have been told by the Superintendent that there will be a pay raise, this month, and that it will be at least 10%. But don't go spend it yet. As always, even the best intentions sometimes to do not end up as desired. My understanding is that everyone involved with the process (City Admin) has agreed to this raise, but it hasn't happened yet. We are all still waiting. You will be informed the very moment I know something more than that.

Will a 10% raise bring us to where we need to be? Of course not. The Superintendent can do arithmetic as well as we can, and he knows what everyone else (in the metro area and beyond) is now paying. He is aware of the how difficult it is to attract new officers with a pay scale that is too low and too slow to grow. And recruitment aside, the officers have earned it.

[Mike Glasser]

I was told by Angela Hill during an interview that the Mayor mentioned a figure of $40,000 a year for a starting P/O in his inauguration speech. That would be a very acceptable figure for P/O Starting pay. Wiill we see that? I don't know. This is a financially-strapped city and I don't know if they can afford that. I also don't know if they can afford not to. Pretty soon there won't be a police department to worry about if there aren't some drastic measures taken. A substantial...and I emphasize, substantial pay raise must be realized if we are to retain our proven officers and attract new qualified candidates. You can be sure that I will press that issue at every opportunity to everyone who has a say-so in the process. You will be told what I learn, when I learn it, good news or bad. It will be posted on the PANO website, in the eMails, and on this forum. One last thing. At least we're not in New Jersey.

[Billy]

Mike just in case people did not see them here arethe links for the registers.

PO II (http://pano1544.com/news/PO%202%20Register.pdf)
PO III (http://pano1544.com/news/PO%203%20Register.pdf)
PO IV (http://pano1544.com/news/PO%204%20Register.pdf)

Hope this helps so people do not have to search for them.

[EdmondExley]

Mike, thanks for the information. I know that along with myself, many other officers wanted some straight answers to these questions. Thanks for providing the information you have and doing so in a VERY timley fashion.