DC authorities unveil a 13% wage boost for MPD officers and employment incentives during Trump's administration tenure, police recruitment drive.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson have announced a new collective bargaining agreement with the DC Fraternal Order of Police Union, aiming to boost the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and address staffing shortages.
Under the agreement, officers, sergeants, lieutenants, and above will receive a 13% pay increase, effective from October 1. Additionally, the agreement includes retroactive pay increases, with a 4.5% increase in Fiscal Year 2024, followed by 4.25% in Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026.
The strategy also extends to supporting the implementation of DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan), the removal of the mandatory retirement age, and an expansion of the Senior Police Officer program to include lieutenants. These measures will be enacted through emergency legislation.
Bowser is also seeking to strengthen partnerships with the University of the District of Columbia to offer academic credit for academy training. The city hopes that with these new incentives, more people will want to join the MPD.
To further address staffing issues, the agreement includes plans to expand MPD's take-home vehicle program by 100 cars for D.C. resident officers. This year, 135 new recruits and 124 cadets have been hired, but Bowser stated that hundreds more are needed.
The collective bargaining agreement is part of a broader strategy to recruit, retain, and support officers. Bowser has repeatedly stated that MPD needs 500 more officers.
In other news, President Donald Trump's federal takeover of the city and its police force ended on September 10. Bowser has been vocal about her intention to return the MPD to 4,000 officers. To achieve this, she is backing legislation to create a deferred retirement option plan for officers and firefighters.
However, Bowser wants the message to be clear to Congress that the city has a framework to request or use federal resources in the city without needing a presidential emergency. The only way Trump's crime emergency in the city can legally be extended is by Congress.
The new collective bargaining agreement and the accompanying measures are expected to be discussed and potentially approved by the D.C. Council on September 17. If approved, retroactive pay increases should be issued by mid-December. The city is optimistic that these measures will help attract and retain talented officers, contributing to a safer and more secure District of Columbia.
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