SAN DIEGO – Mayor Kevin Faulconer and the San Diego Police Officers Association announced that they have reached a tentative agreement on a compensation package to strengthen recruiting and retention of San Diego police officers.
#BREAKING: @sdpoa & Mayor @Kevin_Faulconer agree on new salaries for @SanDiegoPD to improve recruitment, retention. @10News pic.twitter.com/OQCnU4Ucp8
— Jared Aarons (@10NewsAarons) October 18, 2017
“This landmark investment into our police force will help ensure San Diego stays one of the safest big cities in America for decades to come,” Mayor Faulconer said Tuesday. “This is a fair agreement that makes San Diego officers’ salaries highly competitive and encourages veteran officers to stay and grow within SDPD. San Diego has the best police department in the nation, and now every current officer and prospective recruit has great new reasons to choose SDPD.”
RELATED: San Diego Police trying to improve recruitment and retention
Brian Marvel, President of the SDPOA, said the contract will allow the department to retain experienced officers and attract desperately needed recruits.
“With this, and a commitment to maintaining higher staffing levels, we can rebuild SDPD into a strong, stable department, capable of providing the quality public safety services that our citizens deserve," Marvel said. “By employing a new strategy with regard to SDPD recruitment and retention, one based on competitive compensation, the city is sending the right message to our experienced officers...and giving taxpayers more value for their tax dollars."
RELATED: Report shows San Diego Police Department continues to deal with shortage of SDPD officers
The new agreement comes after years of recruiting and retention issues faced by the department. Issues which, the department admits, led to a lack of staffing and experience necessary to provide the safety services for San Diego.
