Questions loom
In Friday’s story about police pay, The Dispatch nailed it with the headline: “Concerns loom.” I’m not sure my concern is the same as the overview committee’s. Mayor Smith and Chief Operations Officer Armstrong say they can’t recruit without a pay increase, they tried, but can’t increase pay without a tax increase. They cite as support 26 unfilled positions in the department (77 budgeted, 51 hired). Not that I don’t really believe the government will spend my money more wisely than I would, but it really annoys me when it appears they’re holding the police force hostage until they can get public support for a tax increase.
New hires receive roughly $32,000 in salary. If those 26 unfilled spots are already in the budget, there’s $832,000 just in salary. If the 51 officers doing the work of 77 could divide the salary of 77, each would get a year-end bonus of $16,000!
I know that’s rounded off and over-simplified, but as a citizen, my first question would be, “How hard did you try?” If the patrol officers are asking the same thing, the leaders might learn that salary isn’t the only recruitment problem. Military, police, fire fighters, other first responders aren’t in it just for the money. They need to believe their leadership is being straight with them.
Bob Altman
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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