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by ChrisHayes from St. Louis

Last Post 22 days, 12 hours Ago


Police Pay
Jan 8, 2007 | 2:50 PM
Category: News
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St. Louis City officers say they deserve better pay and they’ve obtained a study to prove the City can afford it. If you're interested in the complete study -- click on the News tab and you'll see the PDF files along with the story.

The Police Board is considering bringing up salaries of City officers to competitive levels. Board members are looking at three other suburban police departments as a guide – St. Louis County, Chesterfield and Maryland Heights.

I called each city to get an entry level starting salary for a police officer. Take a look at the salary breakdown for yourself.

St. Louis City $35,361
St. Louis County $40,177
Chesterfield $43,651
Maryland Heights $48,281

No one is saying how much of a raise Board Members are considering for St. Louis City officers, just that the salaries should be more competitive.

Kevin Ahlbrand of the St. Louis Police Officers Association said he thought the big raises would happen last fiscal year, but instead, City officers received the same 3% raise as other city employees. That started January 2nd.

But it still doesn’t put St. Louis City officers at a competitive level in the area. The Police Officers Association hired the lobbyist PolicePay.net to study St. Louis City’s ability to pay. The study found a growing economy that can absorb pay increases as well as an “uncommon trend” – “total expenditures have grown much faster than safety expenditures since 1991.”

A city spokesperson points out that the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department already makes up one-third of the City's budget.

One concern is that raises could cost jobs. The Department is already down officers.
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Member Comments Total Comments: 32
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C-roysScene read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 12:28 AM

pretty sad seeing those officers easily see the most dangerous action of any in the metro.
joewathen read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 4:24 AM

The Fire Departments are the same way...
wunicorn read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 10:19 AM

our Police officers here in Maryland Heights,needs to show they actually deserve a pay raise. I have lived here for 4 yrs, and havn't seen they do anything but pull people over. we had problems here a lot and i have not seen any police officer checking this area out. they need to boost up there site around my complex before i agree they deserve a raise.
I am from the show me state. show me they deserve it.

dani
Cuteypops read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 12:12 PM

The City of St. Louis has alot of dangerous areas that the police have to deal with they deserve to be paid more the what Chesterfield and Maryland Heights are getting. If the money is there give it to them isn't that why we pay taxes. I support any pay raises to those who are deserving of them. I know I wouldn't do there job would you?
lindseyw
Jan 9, 2007 | 1:53 PM

I believe all Officers deserve a pay raise. For most Officers their goal for the end of their shift is to make it home safe to the ones they love. Pretty risky goal for the amount they are paid, isn't it????

PeoplesArmyRBG read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 2:31 PM

I know a fact also, the city has so much money because of a large percentage of people are being hustled by the st.louis city court system and color has nothing to do with it's all people from civil court to traffic, also we have a very large group of multi million $ company's i.e. A.G. Edwards, SBC, Ameren U.E., Bank of America etc. with all that city tax money and with all these large companies not including Forest Park CC, SLU, Harris Stowe etc. St.Louis has a lot of tax money and dont even mention the revenue the Cardinals bring in the city alone. With all the burned and derelict houses in st.louis and countless other things I just dont feel the need to talk about, were thinking about giving cops raises first?
carmellion read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 3:32 PM

The sad thing about this is that that we can pull funds from everywhere to build a new stadium for cosmetics, but we dont want to pay the officers who protect us a fair salary. Sounds like good old USA values, same thing is going on with the soldiers and thier salaries.

city1
Jan 9, 2007 | 5:00 PM

Not only are the officers clearly underpaid and undermanned, they are still required to live in the city, subjected to the St. Louis public schools system, and the retiree's health care underwent drastic cuts this year. With crime stats on the rise and the city ever more dangerous, we must be an advocate for the officers.

I live in the city because I choose to, however I go to work and come home and my neighborhood is safe because the police station is 4 blocks away. I cannot remember the last time a 13 year old pointed a gun at me real or fake while I was at work or otherwise. Regardless of what they earn, the men and women on the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department come to work every day and do their job, and when I lay my head down at night I know that I am protected should I need their services.

There is so much that no one sees that the police are doing, like running drug dealers off of the corners, or catching rapists, murders, and car thief’s; and they still making less than Maryland Heights were I am sure DUI’s and traffic violations are at an all time high. No one becomes a cop in the city to get rich. I am convinced that it is a calling; however we as a city have an obligation to look out for our own. I am ashamed that we are more concerned with baseball than we are the safety and well being of or citizens and the men and women in blue.

lauranolanbiermann read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 7:41 PM

Dani...

I lived in Maryland Heights for 5 years, and my fiance lived there for about 15, and you're absolutely right....all they do is harass people and issue tickets for the STUPIDEST violations. When my neighbor was on my porch threatening me with a weapon, I called the cops, and they NEVER showed up.

In fact, the only time they ever showed up when called was when the guy across the street's cat got pinned in their garage door and we called for help...not going to go traipsing around in someone else's yard and risk getting hit for trespassing or B&E. The cat would've died if they hadn't come out...but I could've been offed by the neighbor and they never showed.

I think the city cops deserve a raise...and a fat one at that. We need to take care of our officers.
wunicorn read my blog view my photos
Jan 9, 2007 | 8:54 PM

i agree the city police do need a raise. but i do not feel that Maryland Heights,Chesterfield or any of them do.

Dani
Blogwatcher
Jan 9, 2007 | 10:48 PM

Chris,
The segment indicated the full pay study would be available here to read could you please tell me where I could find it?

Also thanks for checking into this issue with the officer's pay.
lawdog164
Jan 10, 2007 | 5:19 AM

I am a Police Officer and thank you for supporting the Officers. It's nice to know that there are people out there that do appreciate their police and the efforts they take to keep things safe. SLMPD Officers, good luck. I hope you all get what you so greatly deserve! Be safe out there and god bless!
hancockd read my blog view my photos
Jan 10, 2007 | 10:44 AM

I have never understood the rule that requires police officers to live within the St. Louis City limits. That makes no sense. I agree with the sentiments posted so far. Clearly, the City police face more challenges in their daily work than many of the County police. Yet they are paid less. The City police need a significant pay raise and a repeal of the requirement to live in the City.
hancockd read my blog view my photos
Jan 10, 2007 | 10:45 AM

I live in Des Peres. Does anyone know the average salary of a new police officer in Des Peres?
amcgee73 read my blog
Jan 10, 2007 | 1:16 PM

Even though I feel that some cops are horrible and should not be policing anyone's neighborhood, I do feel like most are underpaid and deserve good raises. Teachers and police officers have always been underpaid in my opinion.

cuzicare read my blog
Jan 10, 2007 | 3:26 PM

they should be making six figures a year if you ask me... they put their life on the line everyday and every night and nothing ever changes...the criminals keep coming because the laws are not enforced to the max. the criminals are taught nothing by this other than my lawyer will set me free...
MsKay06
Jan 10, 2007 | 11:03 PM

You know that is very sad , because i myself actually wanted to become part of the law enforcement field and when I found out how much they make a year I was flabbergasted, because police have to put up with too much for them to make that less of a salary every year. Police put their life on the line for our citizens every day and they aren't paid much. But that goes to show us that the world is based on the rich and not the poor. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

MsKay06
Jan 10, 2007 | 11:09 PM

Come to think about it, the police actually are out in the streets harassing citizens everyday and they aren't never around when you need them. When trouble is happening they are somewhere eating donuts and laughing about how their job is so much fun. They pull for the littlest bull-crap ever just to make their monthly quota. I have ran into some racist cops. Good-bye!!!!!!
MsKay06
Jan 10, 2007 | 11:12 PM

I've made another mistake in my story , I meant to say they pull you over for the littlest bull-crap ever, Sorry about the mistakes I'm getting better and better everyday. Thanks!!!!!!!!
NurseMom read my blog view my photos
Jan 11, 2007 | 8:25 AM

What pitiful salaries! Those are barely living wages. Perhaps if the salaries were better, they would be able to attract better and brighter people. There are always going to be bad people in any profession, but I have found that the vast majority of the police are wonderful, dedicated professionals. The biggest problem I see is when you run into a bad one and complain, nothing is done, especially if they are related to the right people.

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ChrisHayes

I'm an investigative reporter looking to expose crime and corruption. I'm interested in uncovering anything citizens should know about. You are my eyes and ears. Tell me what's going on.

Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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