Commission OKs raise from $52,250 to $61,250, with chance for more
Related: Highland Beach: Town counts on police pay boost to bolster recruitment efforts
By Steve Plunkett
Police officers’ starting pay in Gulf Stream jumped in June from the very bottom of a list to what town officials hope is a more attractive midpoint — with the suggestion made that salaries could go even higher during budget discussions this summer.
It was the second time in four months that Police Chief Richard Jones secured higher pay for his ranks, the first time coming in February when he led Ocean Ridge’s Police Department. His modus operandi was the same: compiling a list of salaries higher than what his town pays and pointing out that money saved from having jobs vacant would cover the pay increase.
“What the chief has done is analyzed starting salaries for (15) municipalities that you see listed here and as you can see, Gulf Stream’s starting salary, remember we’re talking about starting salaries here, is at the bottom,” Town Manager Greg Dunham said.
Jones listed Gulf Stream at $52,250, well below Ocean Ridge’s $62,000 and Manalapan’s $60,638. Also putting upward pressure on police pay are Boca Raton, which was not on the list and gives new hires $77,850, and Florida Atlantic University, listed next to last and said to be contemplating a new starting salary of $75,000.
And, said Dunham, “These starting salaries are more than likely going to increase over the next two or three months as the towns and cities go through the budget process.”
Dunham and Jones recommended doing away with a two-step increase the town was using that gave new officers a $3,000 raise after six months and a second $3,000 boost after one year, which would have pushed the initial salary to $58,250.
But town commissioners at their June 9 meeting wanted Gulf Stream even higher and approved a figure of $61,250, a 17% raise.
“I hate to be at the bottom of the totem pole,” Commissioner Joan Orthwein said. “I just think in the middle is a better place to be.”
Jones and Dunham were prepared.
“I did some calculations based on the number of $61,250 as well as some on the $58,250 to kind of give us an idea of where we would fall in the event we had a discussion like this,” Jones said. “And basically, because we’ve been down three positions for the majority of, actually the entirety of this budget cycle, we have not spent approximately $152,000. So, we have the funds in this year’s budget without requesting funds outside of our budget allotment to be able to make adjustments.”
The higher number meant an immediate raise for Alex Gonzalez, who was hired in March. It also is a sweeter pot for Assel Hassan, who joined the department on June 26, and whoever fills the two remaining vacancies.
The department is supposed to have 14 people on staff: Jones, a captain, two sergeants and 10 officers. Jones said he would attend a recruiting event on June 26 in Orlando and was preparing flyers and a video touting the town.
Mayor Scott Morgan was pleased with the progress.
“We’ve got the [new license plate] cameras, we’ve got a new police chief — we’re moving in a positive direction,” Morgan said.
Jones also reported that he received a call about 8 a.m. June 2 from a man in the 3000 block of North Ocean Boulevard reporting that the pool area of the neighboring home had a broken window and it looked like somebody had damaged the property overnight. Two officers were on traffic stops and did not respond immediately, Jones said.
“And within a minute or two we got a phone call again from that resident advising that it appeared as if somebody may be inside the property as the property is not currently being lived in,” he said.
Jones and Capt. John Haseley were there within probably a minute and a half or so.
“And with the assistance of Officer Todd Sutton, we were able to apprehend an individual who was hiding in the pool area of the home underneath some patio furniture,” Jones said. “So, he was promptly arrested and given the best stay at the Palm Beach County jail, and remains there.”
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