Oceanside Approves Contract Giving Police 18% Pay Raise Over 3 Years

Oceanside City Council members ended three months of heated contract negotiations with police officers Wednesday by approving an 18% pay increase to be awarded over three years.

A tentative agreement--reached last week between city negotiators and the Police Officers Assn. with the help of a state mediator--was ratified overwhelmingly by the police union Monday.

The council’s unanimous approval of the contract resolved a salary dispute that stalled negotiations June 21. According to POA President Sgt. Ron Graf, officers were seeking a 7.5% annual increase, while the city offered 5%.

Tensions between the parties escalated during the last month as police officers picketed and conducted sickouts. Although the city notified the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol about personnel shortages caused by the sickouts, assistance from the law enforcement agencies was not required, officials said.