Impasse Over Police Overtime : Baldwin Park Officers Ask Council to End Stalemate

Seeking a new contract that would retain premium overtime pay, more than 50 police officers this week urged the City Council to end an impasse in contract negotiations, saying that a delay could mean the loss of experienced officers.

Half a dozen residents at a Wednesday council meeting also spoke in support of police officers. After the meeting some of the residents said they would vote for a proposed city utility tax in November, if it would help officers get the benefits they seek.

“We have to do something,” said Marie Kirk, 37. “Maybe this is the answer.”

Members of the 70-member police union, which represents officers, sergeants, dispatchers and records clerks, have been working without a contract since June 30, when their previous two-year contract expired.

Terms of Proposal

According to the union’s attorney, Stephen Silver, the city has proposed a 7.5% raise in the first year of a two-year contract, and 5% the second year, but only if police officers give up overtime benefits.

“It appears the council is giving with one hand and taking away with another hand,” Silver told council members. He said a concession in premium overtime pay--1 1/2 times regular pay--would be equivalent to a loss of 2.5% in the proposed salary increase.

But Steve Filarsky, who represents the city in negotiation talks, said that the overtime concession would amount to, at the most, a 2% cut in the proposed pay increase.

“We have such an extensive overtime problem in the city that the only way to afford a 7.5% increase is to take the money from somewhere else,” Filarsky said. He said last year the Police Department paid $291,500 in overtime pay, which exceeded what the city had budgeted.

“We have officers in the city that make $10,000 a year in overtime,” Filarsky said.

But officers said they are not asking for anything they do not deserve.

Bills to Pay

“The bottom line is this: We all have house payments to make, bills to pay,” said Detective Michael Donovan, who addressed the council as one of his two young sons squirmed in his arms. He said he and his wife are expecting a third child.

Entry-level officers now earn $2,505 a month and after three years officers can pull in the top salary of $3,045 a month, Donovan said.

Ken Hart, president of the police union, warned the council that failure to maintain premium overtime pay and salary increases would hurt the city. Since December, eight to nine officers have left the department for advancement opportunities and better pay and benefits elsewhere, he said.

“There are 10 to 12 officers currently testing with other agencies,” Hart said. “The major reason is they are looking for better benefits.”

Councilwoman Bette Lowes, presiding over the council meeting in the absence of Mayor Leo King, who was out of town, told the audience: “We do have great officers who deserve your support. The council intends to consider all that you’ve said tonight.”

Police Budget

But Lowes said the city is facing tight budget constraints, adding that the city spends 51% of its budget on police protection.

“We do have an absolutely bare-bones budget for the next few years,” Lowes said. She urged residents to approve the proposed 3% utility tax in November.

In 1983, a similar utility tax was imposed by the City Council. It was so controversial that it led to an attempted recall of three council members in 1987. Leo King and then-Mayor Jack White were ousted in that recall but regained their council seats in an election four months later. Councilman Robert McNeill died before the recall vote.

Kirk, who supports a pay increase for police officers, said she feels differently about the new utility tax proposal. “The council is doing it the right way this time,” she said. “The other time they did it without a vote from the people.”

Resident Pam Schnabel also said she would vote for the tax in order to help police officers. “I think they are entitled to it,” she said.