New Contract With Police Union Approved

The Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Richard Riordan officially approved a four-year contract for the city’s police officers, giving them raises totaling 18% by 2000.

The unanimous council vote and Riordan’s signature simply formalize the contract that 94% of the police union’s membership approved in June. The salary increases--5% for each of the first three years, and 3% the last year--are retroactive to July 1 (probationary officers get 1% less each year).

“We feel very good about the contract. It’s 18%, which creates labor peace on the path of rebuilding the Los Angeles Police Department,” said Dennis Zine, a director of the Police Protective League. “The officers are very, very pleased with it--they just want to see the money. They have items they want to purchase. They want to see the fruits of their labor.”

In a written statement, Riordan praised the new contract for bringing LAPD officers’ pay closer to that of their counterparts in neighboring departments.

“This competitive package . . . will help us attract and recruit the best candidates,” wrote the mayor, who has led the largest expansion in LAPD history. “The LAPD is the finest police force in the nation, and this contract will help us maintain the standard of excellence embodied in our officers.”