City Council Agrees to Emergency Pay Raise for Cops

SAN ANGELO — The City of San Angelo greenlit a Meet & Confer agreement with the San Angelo Police Officers Coalition during a recent council meeting.

Set to be effective from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024, the agreement addresses key issues including officer recruitment, retention, and compensation.

The approved agreement comes with a total cost of $1.2 million, requiring a budget amendment that received initial approval at the meeting. The amendment is set for final approval in the near future.

One notable feature of the new agreement is the inclusion of "lateral officers" in the hiring process, allowing commissioned officers to join the force more efficiently. 

Assessment centers, designed to promote experienced or qualified officers without traditional testing, were also incorporated.

SAPOC President Noel Anderson addressed concerns about competitiveness, stating, "We just became non-competitive." 

The Meet & Confer agreement includes a performance-based pay plan aimed at addressing recruitment and retention issues.

Vice President Blue Flores presented a pay scale based on a model from College Station, emphasizing an education-based and certification-inclusive approach. 

The pay scale shown at the meeting is as follows: 

• LT Masters Certification = $104,000
• LT Advanced Certification = $99,000
• SGT Master Certification = $88,500
• SGT Advanced Certification = $84,000
• SGT Intermediate Certification = $78,000
• PO Master Certification = $76,500
• PO Advanced Certification = $71,500
• PO Intermediate Certification = $65,500
• PO Basic Certification = $58,500
• Recruit = $54,000 

Additional pay incentives for bilingual officers or those with extra certifications were also highlighted.

The agreement addresses the current workforce, comprising 156 officers with six in the academy. 

It was mentioned that 24 are currently eligible to retire, not counting officers with military time who may be eligible. 

This is a shift from a tenure-based pay plan to an education-based pay plan. 

Anderson confirmed that the new plan benefits all staff members, though the degree varies based on education levels.

Human Resources Director Bryan Kendrick emphasized the foundational nature of the agreement, focusing on education and certification as key factors for informed decision-making in the field. 

Kendrick also noted that San Angelo's competitiveness in officer compensation is expected to increase to about 85 percent compared to cities with populations ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 in Texas.