Police pay at top of chart
By ASHLEY RICHARDS, LAREDO MORNING TIMES
05/09/2008
Police and city management on Thursday signed a new five-year collective bargaining contract with Laredo Police Department, making it official that Laredo's police officers will be the second-highest-paid in the state among departments of a similar size.The contract will cost the city about $8.1 million over the five years, which is less than the previous contract, which cost more because the city negotiated a deal to catch up on pay grades and other areas.
Beginning Oct. 1 of each year, all LPD ranks through captain will receive a 4 percent pay raise, which brings the annual salary for first-year officers from about $40,600 to $42,200. Among cities LPD compares itself to, the new salary is second only to Garland Police Department's.
Other cities in the comparison are Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen, Pasadena, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and El Paso.
"We're going to provide the police department with all the resources," said Mayor Raul Salinas before the contract was signed. "I want to thank you for the service that you provide us every day. You put your life on the line."Read More