New deal with union increases starting salary by $15,000, to $70,000
Related: Gulf Stream: Police starting pay jumps 17%, making town more competitive
By Rich Pollack
For the Highland Beach Police Department, recruiting new officers has long been a challenge, especially since the starting salary of $55,000 was among the lowest in the county.
That changed June 1, however, after town commissioners signed off on a new union contract that raised the starting salary to among the highest in the area while offering provisions that will benefit veteran officers as well.
The new starting salary of $70,000, and a change in the salary structure that makes it possible for officers to reach the new top pay of $95,200 more quickly, will help recruitment and retention, town and union leaders say.
“Now they’re in the game,” said Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association President John Kazanjian. “Once the word gets out, Highland Beach will have people lining up to fill out applications.”
Kazanjian said the new contract will also reduce the need for recruiting a lot of new officers because those already in the department probably will stay longer.
“You want longevity in your Police Department,” he said. “I don’t see a lot of people leaving anytime soon, making that much money.”
Kazanjian, who is also a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy, said that at least for a few months Highland Beach’s new starting salary is higher than that of the sheriff’s office, which will raise its starting figure to about $70,000 in October.
Highland Beach is bound to see a spike in applications thanks to the pay increase, but Police Chief Craig Hartmann said he is hoping more for applications from officers who will be a good fit for the department.
“We have created a compensation package to attract and then retain the best officers that have all the qualifications, training and experience that come with a veteran police officer,” he said.
The town’s Police Department, which has 16 sworn full-time officers and four reserves, is hoping to attract senior officers who already come with training and experience.
“The town recognizes that value of the well-trained officer who is the best fit for our community,” Hartmann said.
While recruiting is difficult for departments throughout the country, Hartmann said small towns have challenges that can make it harder to attract qualified officers.
Small towns offer limited opportunities for overtime, special assignments and advancement since they usually have a limited number of detectives, sergeants, lieutenants and captains.
“We’re very challenged by the limitations,” City Manager Marshall Labadie said, adding that the pay increase helps offset those challenges.
The higher pay also helps Highland Beach compete with departments that provide benefits such as car allowances and health savings accounts, although Highland Beach does offer an education incentive and an incentive for officers on the night shift.
As part of the contract, which will be in effect through September 2026, the town will adjust its compensation package from 10 annual steps to eight, meaning an officer will be able to reach the highest pay grade two years sooner.
With the new contract, the top pay jumped $11,800, from $83,400.
Hartmann said the increase in starting salary is already helping with recruitment. A reserve officer with years of experience in Boca Raton’s department who had been on the fence about becoming a full-time officer decided to take the step once he learned of the improved pay scale.
Labadie said that the town is able to increase the salaries without having a major impact on its budget or a long-term negative impact.
“This contract puts us in the right spot as we continue to be the safest town in Florida,” he told the Town Commission.
Commissioners unanimously approved the new contract.
“This is a win-win,” said Commissioner Donald Peters, a former police officer in New York state. “It’s helping the town and helping our officers.”
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