By Michael Puente, South Bend Tribune
CROWN POINT, INDIANA -- The 170 merit officers of the Lake County police department received an early Christmas present Monday.
The present came in the form of a $1,400 year-end bonus, approved by the Lake County Council.
The action came during a 15-minute special meeting of the council, which approved the measure by a 6-1 vote.
Councilwoman Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, said police officers have a hard job to do, and she believes the county officers deserve the bonus.
However, employees of other county departments will not be receiving extra money.
The bonuses -- totaling $250,000 -- are being paid out of untapped funds within the police departmentas budget.
Franklin said the approval of the bonuses shouldn’t imply those county employees who will not be receiving one aren’t deserving.
“Everyone is important to their department,” Franklin said.
Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez, who pushed for the bonuses, commended the council for approving the measure.
“When I took office in January, I was sad to learn that our police officers are the lowest paid in Lake County,” Dominguez said. “I think this is good for our police officers. ... I’m very happy for them.”
Attorney Leo Blackwell, who helped negotiate the bonus on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police, says the plan is a good compromise.
“It’s good for the police officers. They do deserve more,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell said the bargaining agreement between the county and its merit officers expires in 2005. The merit officers will receive additional financial incentives in 2004, including a 25-cent per hour increase in shift differential.
Tim Downs, president of the Lake County Police Association, said it overwhelmingly voted to approve the bonus plan at a meeting last week. Of 170 members, 117 showed up to last week’s meeting to vote.
All but four voted to accept the offer.
Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, voted against the bonus plan. He opposes approving bonuses for only a few departments.
The council approved grant- ing employees of Lake Superior Court County Division Judge Sheila Moss one-time $1,100 bonuses at a meeting last week.