On the agenda: Salem City Council considers 3% raise for police

Whitney Woodworth, Salem Statesman Journal
·3 min read
Salem Police respond to shots fired June 13 near the Cherriots Downtown Transit Center at High and Chemeketa Streets Northeast.
Salem Police respond to shots fired June 13 near the Cherriots Downtown Transit Center at High and Chemeketa Streets Northeast.

Salem City Council is set to vote on whether to give 3% raises to all sworn officers during Monday's meeting.

The city needs to pay police more to remain competitive, stop turnover and keep morale high, city staff said in a report to council.

"The Salem Police Department, similar to other police agencies across the nation, continues to experience an increase in recruitment and retention issues of law enforcement employees," staff said in the report. "Shrinking applicant pools, increased loss of employees to other agencies, as well as higher number of early retirements is impacting daily operations, instability in maintaining staffing levels, and employee morale."

Despite the city's efforts to attract new officers and strengthen community relationships, interest in policing as a career has continued to wane.

The department received additional funded positions in fiscal year 2023, but those new positions will not be filled unless "ongoing efforts in recruitment and hiring are enhanced and remain a constant priority," staff said in the report.

Related:Starting Monday, Salem Police will wear bodycams

As of Jan. 4, the police department has 22 sworn vacancies. In the past year, they've hired 14 people.

The department has had an 11% turnover of staff either due to agency transfers or retirement and separation.

"This attrition rate and inability to hire up to adequate staffing levels is causing the need for increased overtime to maintain minimum staffing levels, working down line of the higher ranks for coverage issues, and negatively impacting the overall work-life balance of the employees," staff said.

According to the staff report, Salem's current pay for police officers is about 7% below the market rate for cities of comparable size.

If passed, the raise would apply to all ranks of sworn police, from officer to deputy police chief.

Other council agenda items include:

  • A public hearing on reallocating $1.1 million of HOME Investment Partnership to Sequoia Crossings and Cottage Apartments.

  • Presentations on Women in Construction and Black History Month.

  • Approval of the 2023 City Policy Agenda.

  • Updated City priorities for 2023 Oregon Legislative Session.

  • Planning Commission Annual Report.

  • Whether to engage a federal lobbyist.

  • Considering whether to ask staff to compile a report on whether to allow short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods.

  • A Fiscal Year 2022 financial audit for the city and Urban Renewal Agency.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person at the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center at 555 Liberty St. SE and can also be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish.

Those wishing to comment in person can sign-up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting.

Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or pre-register between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem City Council to vote on 3% raise for police officers