City Offers Police 2% Raise; Counteroffer Likely

Long-delayed negotiations between Los Angeles police officers and the city moved ahead Tuesday, as the City Council made its first formal offer of a pay raise in the nearly 2-year-old contract dispute.

The city lawmakers agreed to increase police pay 2% in the fiscal year beginning July 1 and another 2% the year after that, with an additional 2.5% bonus to encourage officers to take patrol assignments.

Representatives of the Police Protective League declined to comment on the proposal, but it seemed unlikely to settle the bitter dispute. Police have previously asked for more money, 3% annually over three years, and have balked at the idea of bonuses for just some officers.

The police union board will meet today, but a union press release Tuesday signaled the union’s intention to make a counteroffer Thursday.

The union’s 7,500 police officers have become increasingly frustrated with the lack of a contract and pay raise--inspiring officers to march on City Hall, then stage a mass sickout and to post billboards suggesting that residents are threatened by the lack of support for police.

Mayor Richard Riordan and the City Council backed away from an informal pay offer after the billboards were installed. The council’s action Tuesday came only after the union last week removed the billboards, which showed a masked assailant pointing a gun at a startled woman.

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The city lawmakers Tuesday also attempted to make their proposal more palatable by deferring some decisions on another controversial contract issue--their attempt to simplify police rankings.

Some changes would still be made immediately, under the council proposal, such as making it easier to transfer officers and return officers to patrol duty from detective assignments. But other work rule changes that would speed Police Chief Willie L. Williams’ efforts to reorganize the department, would be delayed until a consultant’s report is completed and the issues are negotiated with the Police Protective League.

“There is a very constraining set of rules that prevent the chief from getting the maximum out of officers,” said one council member, who asked not to be named. “The rules have to go, but it’s a question of when and how and in exchange for what.”

Police officers have said the rules should remain in place so that they are protected from vindictive supervisors.