Cachola backs raise
for police, fire chief
The salaries of the police and fire chiefs have not kept pace with raises given to officers and firefighters covered by collective-bargaining agreements over the past 10 years, said Romy Cachola, chairman of the City Council's Executive Matters Committee.
Cachola said his research showed that the top department administrators saw their pay rise 31 percent over the past 10 years while middle managers saw increases of 39 percent, rank-and-file police officers at 35 percent and firefighters at 36 percent during the same period.
Cachola made the comments in justifying raises of 5 percent for the chiefs and their deputies as recommended by the city Salary Commission.
The Executive Matters Committee deferred taking action on a resolution that called for the rejection of the raises. The move allows the salaries to take effect July 1.
"The police chiefs were just stagnant for four years while others were given increases," Cachola said.
Under the recommendation, the police and fire chiefs' salaries would rise to $110,206 from $104,958.
Under the same recommendation, their deputies' pay would increase to $104,583 from $99,603.
Both police Chief Lee Donohue and fire Chief Attilio Leonardi argued for the raises to help keep the salaries of top administrators in line with subordinates.
The commission only recommended raises for the police and fire chiefs and their deputies this year. The salary hike would put the chiefs ahead of the city managing director at $107,100.