VENTURA COUNTY NEWS : Police Receive Some Outside Support in Pay Dispute : Labor: A Santa Paula couple send in $2,000, believing it may encourage others in the community to do the same.

Police Chief Bob Gonzales didn’t quite know what to think when a local resident walked into the department and handed him a card.

“[My wife and I] have been doing a lot of deep thinking and we want you to have this,” said lifelong city resident Ed Staben, 76.

As Gonzales opened the card, a $2,000 check fell out--money intended to spur a fund-raising drive to give Santa Paula officers the pay raise they have demanded the past two years.

“Laura and I can’t believe all the hassle over this issue,” Staben wrote on the card. “We hope others in the community will come forward with the additional [money needed] in a short time in order to put all this to rest.”

It was an unexpected show of support for police in the midst of a battle that officers have waged with city officials in an effort to get a 4% pay hike.

Santa Paula officers--the lowest-paid force in the county--have been working without a contract for two years. Negotiations between union leaders and city officials have stalled numerous times, with both sides recently declaring an impasse.

On Thursday, Santa Paula Police Officers Assn. President Sgt. Gary Marshall announced the 28-officer department has switched alliances from its union to the International Brotherhood of Peace Officers, hoping the new representation will breathe fresh life into the negotiation process.

“We didn’t feel we were receiving the attention we should because we are a small agency,” Marshall said. “We’ve been going through this for two years now. And it’s against the law for us to strike, so what else can we do?”

Marshall said the new union representatives will try to meet with city officials soon. But authorities are awaiting Tuesday’s City Council meeting in which city leaders will decide whether they should impose a 2% raise. Santa Paula officers have already turned down the 2% offer, asking instead for a 4% raise that would be retroactive to July 1997. Officers then hope to negotiate a new contract for 2000. If city officials refuse to continue negotiations, the union would consider filing a civil suit against the city alleging it has failed to negotiate in good faith, Marshall said.

The gift was a touching show of citizen support, Marshall said.

“It is really a morale-lifter,” Marshall said. “Everyone here went, ‘Wow, that was neat. Someone here really cares that much about us.’ ” Marshall, however, added he has some concerns about taking money from residents who already pay taxes to cover law enforcement services.

“It just doesn’t strike me as right,” Marshall said. “It seems unethical. Say if they were doing that to buy us a police dog or a new car or equipment to do a job better, that’s one thing. But for me to pocket money over and above what they already pay taxes for? I greatly appreciate it. It shows we have so much support. But I would rather the city come through.”

Staben, a retired Realtor, and his wife, Laura, 68, say they are fed up with the bickering between council members and the city’s officers and believe local residents can help put an end to it.

In recent months, 20 of the department’s 28 officers signed a document stating they do not want city leaders to attend their funeral if they are killed in the line of duty.

And earlier this year officers posted signs throughout the city warning drivers they are entering a high crime area, action intended to underscore the police union’s contention more officers are needed to help lower Santa Paula’s crime rate.

Santa Paula has not added any officers in more than 25 years. Police officials say it’s hard to recruit and keep new talent because officers earn an average of 34% less in salary than other similar-sized agencies.

City officials have estimated one year’s worth of raises would cost $34,000. The Stabens have asked Gonzales to hold their check until other residents come forward with enough funds to total $34,000. Staben said no one approached him for a donation.

The Stabens acknowledge they are friends with the chief but said they have never talked to him about the money dispute.

The Stabens also said while they count some council members among their friends, they say there is no question which side they want to support.

“I guess you can take our action as an answer to that,” Ed Staben said.