WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (June 15, 2021) – At the Monday, June 14, City of West Palm Beach Commission Meeting the commission ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement for police officers and related civilian personnel represented by the Florida State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, Inc. (FOP).

The FOP was certified by the Public Employees Relations Commission on October 16, 2020 as the exclusive representative for police officers and related civilian classifications in the Police Department. Negotiations with the FOP began on November 13, 2020. FOP unit members overwhelmingly ratified the agreement on May 21, 2021, by a vote of 194 to 5 in favor for Certified Unit 1985 (Officers and Civilian unit); and 11 to 0 in favor for Certified Unit 1986 (Lieutenants unit).

The agreement will be effective from October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2024.

Key provisions of the Agreement include:  

• Market adjustment increases for Step 1 of the Step Plan to bring the Police Officer classification from 13th place in the Palm Beach/Broward regional market to 2nd place.
  • Current starting salary for Police Officer at Step 1:$49,964.77
  • Starting salary of Police Officer at Step 1 effective October 1, 2021:$61,961.12
• Market adjustment increases for Police Sergeants will bring the classification from 6th in the Palm Beach/Broward regional market to 2nd place.
• Market adjustment increases for Lieutenants will bring the classification from 5th in the Palm Beach/Broward regional market to 3rd place.
• A provision to allow hiring of officers who have prior law enforcement experience at a higher pay step commensurate with their prior years of law enforcement experience. This provision, along with the new Step Plan, will significantly aid in the City's police recruitment efforts.
• Market adjustment increases to non-sworn FOP civilian job classifications of: Community Service Aide, Crime Scene Investigator, Latent Print Examiner, and Sr. Latent Print Examiner. The proposed market adjustment for civilian positions will bring them from 6th place in the Palm Beach/Broward regional market to 5th place or better.

In addition to the market adjustment increases, the agreement also provides for a 5% annual step raise for all FOP employees on their employment anniversary date. With the combined market adjustment increase and 5% annual step raise, police officers will receive a total increase in their compensation ranging from approximately 15% to 29% in FY22. Similarly, the combined market adjustment increase, and 5% annual step raise for civilian employees will range from approximately 10% to 15% in FY22.

“Ensuring the public’s safety is priority number one,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “To achieve this, we must continue to invest in our police department. This new salary plan accomplishes the City’s goal to raise the compensation of our Officers, who risk their lives to keep us safe, to a higher market placement.  It will make the WPBPD much more competitive in its hiring and ability to retain its dedicated police force. I am greatly appreciative to the Fraternal Order of Police for working with the city throughout the negotiation process.”

For information about the City of West Palm Beach, please visit: www.wpb.org or call (561) 822-2222 (TTY: 800-955-8771).