CLEVELAND — “We are not going to spare any expense to keep our city safe, and I think today’s announcement truly shows the testament to that commitment on behalf of our administration.”
That was the message from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb on Friday morning as he announced what city officials are calling an "historic" investment in police. Bibb was joined at the announcement by Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President (CPPA) Jeff Follmer and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #8 President Capt. Jim O'Malley.
The announcement included two factors: Pay increases and changing to 12-hour shifts.
PAY INCREASES
“We have negotiated based on the rank of the officer, up to a 14% pay increase for all officers across the division of police," Mayor Bibb said.
While taking the 11% increase negotiated last year, Mayor Bibb said his administration has now increased wages for police by up to 25% in just two years. The city says the raises make the top patrol officers of the Cleveland Division of Police the highest paid among the largest cities in the state, elevating pay rates above Akron, Canton, Toledo, Youngstown, Parma and Lorain.
"Because of this agreement, our pay now goes from being in the 50th percentile statewide, to now the 75th percentile statewide," Bibb stated.
The announcement about the raises came following a vote Thursday by union members who approved the new amendments to their current collective bargaining agreement.
“Time and again, I’ve said that my administration is committed to doing everything we possibly can to improve public safety by investing in those who protect us – our police officers. This is the latest example of that commitment,” Bibb added. “I’d like to thank the CPPA and FOP leadership for their genuine collaboration throughout this process and look forward to continuing this great partnership we have established.”
NOTE: We streamed Mayor Bibb's entire press conference, which you can watch in full below...
12-HOUR SHIFTS
Mayor Bibb said the move from 10 to 12-hour shifts will allow officers to have a better work-life balance.
“We’ve looked at several studies that actually show that 12-hour shifts -- particularly the nursing sector -- has benefited that profession. We’re also seeing across the country from St. Louis and other departments -- even in Ohio -- Parma, for example, are going to 12-hour shifts. So, we believe that this new shift model gets our officers more time off, more weekends with their family, reduces the mandates that have been taking a toll on them and their respective families as well."
This plan will be reevaluated within a year, according to Mayor Bibb, and if the plan doesn't work they will "go back to the drawing board."
“Right now some of our officers work eight-hour shifts, and because some of the staffing concerns at some of the districts they’re being held over for an additional four hours," explained Deputy Chief of Administrative Operations Daniel Fay.
He said this change will eliminate the mandates for extra hours because more officers will be available during both shifts.
“It will spread the staffing out," Fay continued. "It will give us more staffing with each squad and with each shift. Do we have more officers right now? No. Do we anticipate more officers coming? Definitely. I anticipate through the recruitment efforts and this particular agreement, our academy classes will increase. So it’s going to take time, no doubt about it. It’s going to a little bit of time to get where we want to be, but this is one step in that process to make sure that our officer’s wellness is considered. These mandates are one of the issues that we see when officers leave."
The new changes will become effective on January 1, pending approval from Cleveland City Council.
This announcement comes just two days after city leaders announced that the number of applicants to join the Cleveland Division of Police has risen 45% since Aug. 23, the day of the "Public Safety Summit."
The city says it has budgeted for 1,498 police officers, but there are currently 1,211 members of the Cleveland Division of Police.
In an effort to boost police staffing, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 President Jim O'Malley and Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Jeff Follmer held a "Public Safety Summit" in August.
The summit produced several new initiatives to entice more police applicants, including:
- An increase in wages from $16 to $24 per hour for cadets.
- Cadets entering the police academy with a college degree or military service will enter at a higher level
- A $5,000 retention bonus paid out in parts through the end of the probationary period
- Reimbursement for those applicants who attended the Cuyahoga Community College Police Academy
