By Bill Carey
Police1
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the San Francisco Police Officers Association to deal with a significant staffing shortage.
The contract will help recruit new officers by making San Francisco have the highest paid entry-level salary for larger cities in the Bay Area, KRON reported.
“We are currently short-staffed by 562 officers, or approximately 25% short of the 2,182 officers required to meet our workload demands,” Police Chief Bill Scott said.
The contract sets a 10.75% salary increase over the next three years: 4.75% in year one, 3% in year two and 3% in year three.
“These new hiring and retention incentives send a clear message: We want more police officers serving San Francisco,” Supervisor Rafael Mandelman told KRON.
Additional items the contract provides for are:
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3% increases for officers at five, seven and eight years of service to improve officer retention.
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An advance to the next salary step after one year, instead of two, for lateral officers.
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Extension of a pilot program to provide emergency childcare reimbursement for officers held for mandatory overtime, called back to work, or held over schedule.
Mayor London Breed said the contract is a key step in a long-term recruitment and retention strategy.