Police Contract Approved Through 2016

have received a 3 percent increase in wages between 2011 and 2012, now that supervisors have unanimously approved the collective bargaining agreement and police contract to 2016.

Also in the new contract comes an option to switch from a PPO to HMO medical plan, the elimination of the cadet ranking and an increase in the retirement bonus for officers serving more than 25 years.

“(The agreement) will lock us up over the next five years,” said supervisors Chairman Robert Birch. “I want to extend my thanks to the chief, deputy chief, all the police officers, all the members of your negotiating team and a special thanks to Candyce (Chimera) and (township manager) Larry (Gregan), representing the board throughout this negotiation. It went very smoothly and we are very, very pleased we’ve accomplished this.”

Per the contract wages will increase 2.5 percent in 2013, 2.5 percent in 2014, 3 percent in 2015 and 3.5 percent in 2016.

The recruit position will have a wage freeze for all five years of the contract.

In 2012, those hired before Jan. 1, 2012 will receive the following hourly rates and salaries:

Sergeant $45.25; $94,115.35

Corporal $43.61; $90,709

Patrol Officer I $41.99; $87,345.65

Patrol Officer II $39.28; $81,711.14

Patrol Officer III $35.58; $73, 998.50

 Recruit $29.99; $62,386.60

In 2013 and 2014, those rates will increase by 2.5 percent. In 2015, the 2014 rates will increase by 3 percent, and by another 3.5 percent in 2016.

In the final year of the previous police contract, the rates were as such:

Sergeant $43.93; $91,365.95

Corporal $42.34; $88,066.95

Patrol Officer I $40.77; $84,791.35

Patrol Officer II $38.14; $79,339.81

Patrol Officer III $34.54; $71,852.71

 Recruit $29.12; $60,575.28

Cadet $21.29; $44,290.85

Under the new contract, to be promoted from recruit to patrol officer III, one must attend the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission and work 12 additional months. Promotions within each patrol officer division require 12 additional months.

Longevity pay in the contract is offered at 2 percent of actual base pay for five years of service; 4 percent for 10 years; 6 percent for 15 or more years; and 8 percent for 20 or more years.

Those with 25 years or more, longevity pay is frozen at the 8 percent figure in the 25th year.

Overtime remains the same at 1.5 times the gross compensation per hour. This is the same rate for court time, with a minimum four hours for federal court, county court, county juvenile court or count mental health hearings, and minimum two hours for district court.

In the medical plan, deductibles have increased in the PPO.

Any new officers hired after Jan. 1, 2012, will be restricted to only the HMO plan.

However, any officer can convert from PPO to HMO between 2012 and 2015 for an incentive.

If you switch in 2012, you receive $1,500. If you switch in 2013, you receive $1,000. In 2014, you receive $625 and in 2015, you receive $375.

In 2015, all officers will be converted to the HMO plan.

Co-pays in the PPO plan are $15 for primary care, $25 for specialist and $100 for emergency room visits, waived if admitted. Co-pays in the HMO plan are $10, $10 and $15.

The former contract listed $10 co-pay for primary PPO care, $20 for specialist care and $50 for emergency room visits. The HMO plan in the old contract listed $10 for primary, $15 for specialist and $15 for emergency room visits.

Furthermore, the DROP period in the pension plan was extended from 36 to 48 months.

Retirement health insurance in the contract has 75 percent of the premium cost paid by the township for the first five years. The township pays 75 percent of the fifth year premium and 50 percent of the premium increase for sixth and succeeding years.

This insurance terminates at Medicare eligibility.

Life insurance is 200 percent of the base and longevity wages, paid by the township.

The retirement bonus increased in the new contract for services in excess of 25 years.

For 26 years, officers receive an additional $100 a month, the same from the previous contract. For 27 years, officers receive an additional $200 a month, an increase of $75 from the old contract.

For 28 years, officers receive $300, double what was in the old contract. For 29 years, officers receive $400, a $225 increase from the previous contract. For 30 years, officers receive an additional $500 a month, a $300 increase from the old contract.

Vacation time remains the same at 84 hours for one year; 120 hours for five years of service; 168 hours for 10 years of service; 204 hours at 15 years of service; and 240 hours at 20 years of service. A maximum of 120 days can be carried over to the next year.

Officers receive 12 hours of personal time for each three months of employment, and 48 hours in the second year and each year after that. Police get 10 sick days for each of the first two years after 90 days.

Tuition reimbursement has increased in the new contract. Police officers are eligible for $4,000 annually in reimbursement.

A grade of an “A” garners 100 percent reimbursement, compared to 90 percent in the old contract. A grade of a “B” garners 90 percent reimbursement, a 10 percent increase from the old contract. A grade of a “C” garners 50 percent reimbursement, the same as the old contract.

The education bonus added the completion of a master’s degree in the new contract. Officers who complete a post-graduate degree get a bonus of 4 percent of their base wages.

Police are also subjected to random drug testing of marijuana, opiates, PCP, amphetamines, cocaine and alcohol.

The contract ensures that 50 percent of all officers are tested for narcotics each year and 25 percent of all police officers are tested for alcohol each year.

Officers on the Montgomery Township Police Bargaining Unit included Officer Mark Webster, Detective Ed Davies, Detective John McGready and Sgt. Dan Mitchell.

Representatives for the township include administration director Ann Shade, Gregan and Chimera.

Supervisor Joe Walsh said he has been in negotiations with another unit in his prior public service, and said this negotiation went smoothly.

“We do appreciate you being cognizant of the fact that there are tough economic times,” he said. “We definitely want you to be well paid because we think very highly of our police force.”