🚨Motion to reduce police department officer pay denied!🚨

A police chief (and PBA member) of a small town in the Delta called us yesterday afternoon advising of a special call board meeting to discuss cutting the pay of all officers and police chief. He was very concerned and wanted a legal voice for himself and his officers. We responded immediately.

This same chief has dedicated so much to the town - having recently written grants for 9 body cameras, and 15 pole cameras - working closely with DPS to get hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment to protect the citizens.

Meanwhile, the chief and his 4 officers, two part time and two full time, were being “rewarded” by the threat of getting paid less. I’m not even going to say the amount per hour here, but they should be ashamed. Babysitters make more than this.

This is not a way for a town to save money.

Fortunately, after a lengthy executive session, the motion did not pass. The rate of pay remains the same (still abysmally low). The town also hired another certified part time officer.

People will not live, invest, or raise a family in a town where they do not feel safe.

Takeaway: this is not a “pro police” or “anti police” post. This is an employer/labor post. You have to pay your employees a living wage. In any business. If you want to keep them. You just have to.

You absolutely get what you pay for. And coupled with the amazing power that we give law enforcement - to investigate, detain, arrest, search, seize, and (God help) shoot us - taxpayers must PAY them.

After 15 years of working as an attorney for the Police Benevolent Association all across the north half of the state, I am continually amazed at how little the rate of pay is for such an important job. I don’t know any other law-enforcement officer that doesn’t have some type of second job.

They work too many hours in too much of a difficult and stressful situation to have to work two jobs to live.

And yet we clutch our pearls when we hear stories of officers turning a blind eye to corruption, putting gas in their private vehicle with a gas card, double dipping on time sheets, or even worse taking bribes.

It’s not excusable. But we as taxpayers create motive or incentive to cut corners when we pay babysitter wages.

Glad we got a good result today. Encouraging all law-enforcement officers to be members of the police benevolent association. We will come and help you.