Police officers could get immediate pay raise

Maricopa police officers could be receiving a 2.5 percent pay raise in their next pay check and some officers up to another 5 percent in July.

Maricopa City Council members will consider approving an agreement Tuesday between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 78 that represents the first officer pay raises in four years.

The raises would begin in the first pay period after Tuesday’s meeting and continue through June 30, 2013.

Since May, the department has been represented by the FOP in its negotiations with the city. A majority of city’s officers — 23 out of 38 — belong to the union, giving it the right to represent all officers, said local FOP president Justin Thornton.

Another police union – the City of Maricopa Police Association — has 18 members.

Thornton said he was pleased with the anticipated agreement.

“This will be our first pay raise in four years,” said Thornton, who was hired in 2007 and now works as a detective.

COMPA president Elliot Sneezy said he had heard from officers who belong to both unions they may be getting a raise, but said he hasn’t seen an agreement on paper.

“They (FOP) haven’t actually presented anything to our union,” he said.

FOP’s Maricopa Officers Council accepted the agreement in December. It includes provisions for a 2.5 percent pay raise effectively immediately. It also provides for an annual merit increase in July of 2.5 percent for officers who meet expectations in their performance evaluations and an additional 2.5 percent increase for officers who exceed expectations.

The city’s website currently is listing an opening for a police officer recruit at a pay range of $47,081 to $63,698.