By Brian CHERNICK

On Tuesday night, Glendale City Council approved and adopted a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and the Glendale Police Officers’ Association (GPOA).

The MOU, which was ratified by GPOA members Oct 5-7, sets agreements with the city regrarding “wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment” for the rank-and-file sworn officers that are represented by GPOA. For the next three years officers will be receiving an annual increase in pay. During the first two years, a 3% adjustment will be made and the third year will be a 3.5% adjustment.

The fiscal impact of the agreement is estimated at $11.1 million over three years.

According to the written analysis on the MOU and director of Human Resources Matt Doyle, Glendale officers have not seen a general cost-of-living increase since 2010 and also had a 4% pay reduction in 2011.

The agreement faced criticism during community comment period at the Tuesday night council meeting. Glendale resident Mike Mohill argued that the increase in pay should go toward other aspects of the city. Mohill also argued that taxpayers were paying for both current officers’ payroll and retired officers’ pensions. Council member Vartan Gharpetian countered by arguing that when factoring in the previous years’ pay reduction and lack of pay increase, over the nine years from 2010 to 2019, when the MOU is set to expire, the officers will have an overall 1% adjustment in pay.

GPOA and the city hoped to reach a competitive level of compensation in the market, as the Glendale Police Dept. has been struggling to attract and retain officers. Doyle stated that Glendale police are paid approximately 10-12% below comparable labor markets.

Also included in the MOU are adjustments to officers’ Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification pays, which law enforcement agents take part in to “enhance their skills, tactics and overall education relating to police work.”

  Brian CHERNICK