Detroit Police Chief James Craig (Deadline Detroit photo)
If anyone deserves a raise, it's the Detroit cops. They're paid too little, and it goes without saying, their jobs can be pretty challenging, not to mention dangerous.
Katrease Stafford and Robert Allen of the Detroit Free Press report that city officials announced Monday plans to boost salaries by 4% for sworn Detroit police officers, increase starting pay and extending contracts for the department's three unions.
"This is a step in the right direction," Police Chief James Craig said. "I'm excited." The changes affect 2,224 sworn officers, the free reports.
Starting officers' pay will jump from $31,700 to $36,000, the Freep reports.
The Freep reports that the contract also calls for:
An additional year extension on the contract to June 30, 2020, with an additional 3% base pay increase on July 1, 2019.
An increase in commitment to professional development and education, including $2,000 per year in tuition reimbursement, a 2% increase in base pay for any DPOA member with 2 years of college and a 2% increase in base pay for any lieutenant or sergeant with 4 years of college.
