ORLANDO, Fla. -- A police protest heated up in downtown Orlando on Monday. Orlando officers, who want more money than the city is offering, marched into Monday’s city council meeting for a silent protest.
It was an impressive showing when about 200 police officers, who last election supported the mayor, marched angrily against him, hoping a strong presence would convince him to pay up, saying it would be the equivalent of about $5 a household to keep them happy while on the streets.
Turning in their side arms for signs, the growing group of police officers decided to march Monday on city hall demanding higher pay. A two percent raise, they say, is not enough for 10-year veterans.
Instead, they’re demanding close to three and a half percent, as well as bonuses for length of service they say they’re already owed, a total of $400,000 they claim the city is now withholding since contract negotiations went sour.
So many of them were angry, in fact, that they overfilled city hall, prompting police to remove other police.
The mayor defended his stance and said anything over two percent would result in higher property taxes.
“We’re having to live within our means. It’s certainly their right to try to get more money from us. The city doesn’t have it and I owe it to the taxpayers to make sure we hold the line,” says Mayor Dyer.
But police claim he hasn’t held the line for other agencies, like district chiefs for the fire department and city staff members, and even his own merit pay raise of 3.75 percent.
And if the matter isn’t resolved soon, they plan to use more extreme measures, including a billboard campaign like they did during a similar dispute in 1993, or showing up to picket at the next local appearance by Senator Kerry, saying it would embarrass a Democratic mayor in front of a potential Democratic president.
The mayor added that Orlando police officers, starting at $36,000 a year, are the highest compensated in the state and seventh highest in the country.
And, perhaps surprisingly, the officers admit they, overall, are paid adequately. They just don’t believe in setting a standard of two percent and plan to fight some of these issues in court if necessary.