Seattle cops would be highest paid in state under tentative agreement

The Seattle Police Officers Guild and the City of Seattle have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that, if passed, would make Seattle Police Officers the highest earning law enforcement officers in the state. The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH has a copy of the Summary of Contract Changes presentation offered to SPOG members at one of Wednesday’s meetings.

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best will join the Jason Rantz Show on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. to discuss the tentative contract and the recruitment-staffing issue.

As it stands now, Seattle is ranked number four in Washington for “top step” wages, which reflects how long an officer has worked on the force. If this passes, according to a source to the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH, SPD officers will land at the top of the list, followed by officers with the Port of Seattle, Tacoma, and Renton.

This would equal, on average, an increase of about $1,000 in pay a month.

RELATED: Seattle police, city reach tentative contract agreement

According to a police source, SPOG would agree to drop some unfair labor practice claims, including some which involve the use of body cameras. SPOG members alleged they were forced to violate their current contract by wearing body cameras. According to the presentation notes, officers will receive “2.0% retroactive” pay to 01/02/2018 for “all units required to wear” the body cameras.

Further, I’ve learned that the Office of Professional Accountability would see some changes in how they will handle officers being investigated for misconduct, but specifics remain unclear. They are, according to a source, expected to see two more civilian staffers to handle the intake process.

The Loudermill hearing, which allows officers accused of misconduct a forum to explain their side of accusations, also get an update, according to the summary. Among the changes, the draft indicates the hearing will be scheduled 30 days after the complaint is provided to SPOG and asks the chief to make a “good faith effort” to offer a decision on the case within 10 days of the original hearing.

According to the document, there is an “Agreement regarding the standard of proof in labor arbitrations, including an elevated standard of review (ie – more than preponderance of the evidence) for termination cases where the alleged offense is stigmatizing to a law enforcement officer.”

SPOG members are meeting over the next few days to discuss the proposed changes. I’m told, the mood is good and the meetings are packed. The expectation is that this will pass.

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