COLUMBUS, Ohio — After a year of negotiations, a new contract could be key for the Columbus Division of Police (CPD) to recruit new officers.
Columbus City Council approved the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and CPD’s new contract Monday.
“Our city wants and needs our police officers to operate with excellence,” said Police Chief Elaine Bryant.
A pay increase is among the many terms in the three-year contract.
“I’m going to ask mayor and council to do their part to continue to fund new officers who embrace our values and embrace changes in how we police,” said Bryant.
The contract states new Columbus officers could earn more than $100,000 after three years. Keith Ferrell, FOP lodge #9 president, is happy with the deal.
“I’m also glad that out of this deal some of the best police officers in the country are compensated in a manor they should be,” said Ferrell.
Columbus’ stepped up pay increases, or “market adjustments” are thousands above other Ohio cities.
Third-year officers in Cleveland can make around $65,000. In Cincinnati, it’s close to $74,000. Negotiations in Cleveland for a new contract in 2022 are already underway, in Cincinnati, they begin in 2023.
“I hope to be an example across the state from a recruiting standpoint and everything else because I think these officers across the state have all been through a lot,” said Ferrell.
Matrix, a third-party consulting company, was hired to do an operational review of CPD in 2019. Bryant said one of its key findings included the need to hire more officers. She’s hoping the new deal will attract strong candidates.
