HELP CMPD & CFD!!

[OnCrime]

I sent the following e-mail to all of the City Council Members and Mayor McCrory asking them to give police officers and firefighters a raise this year. Feel free to use what you like. Responses are posted below.

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From: OnCrime [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 11:54 AM
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: CMPD/CFD Pay

Hello,

I would like to respectfully request you vote to increase police officer and firefighter salaries this year. CMPD officers & CFD firefighters do an excellent job fighting crime, giving medical care and fighting fires in Charlotte and I think they should be awarded as such.

CMPD Officers are paid 8% below national average yet they face far more risk than other cities. Officers have not received a pay raise in 9 years. Most officers have to work a second job or work off-duty hours to support themselves and pay their bills.

The men and women of the police force and fire department put their lives at risk everyday to protect us citizens and I feel they should be paid at least an average salary.

I appreciate your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,
XX
Concerned Citizen

NOTE: It is a good idea to copy & paste the e-mail addresses in the (Bcc:) line. This way it doesn't go to their spam folder and it is more personal.

[OnCrime]

"McCrory, Pat" <[e-mail]> wrote:
Subject: RE: CMPD Police Pay
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:23:50 -0500
From: "McCrory, Pat" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>

Thank you for contacting me regarding Police salaries. I appreciate you input and I will keep your comments in mind for future reference.

I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.

Mayor Pat McCrory

[OnCrime]

From: [e-mail]
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:24:38 EST
Subject: Re: CMPD Police Pay
To: [e-mail]

Thanks, xx, for your email. We start our budget process soon. I look forward to seeing the manager's recommendation. I don't think we can raise taxes again this year, but I'll do my best for public safety officers.

Susan Burgess
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Charlotte, NC

[OnCrime]

Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:39:29 -0500
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: CMPD Police Pay
To: [e-mail]

Hello,
Thank you for your input.
Andy Dulin

[OnCrime]

Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:19:17 -0500
From: "Coleman D. Carter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: CMPD Police Pay
To: "[e-mail]"

Many thanks for your email and your evaluation of our officers. We have stretched in the last few years, increasing their pay and their numbers. The City does what it can to recompense its fine officers.

With gratitude for your involvement,
Nancy Carter

[OnCrime]

From: "John Lassiter" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: CMPD Police Pay
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 08:09:47 -0500


Thanks for your thoughts on this issue.
John Lassiter

[Kim]

Mayor and council,



We advertise to the world that we are a “World Class City”. We build stadiums, coliseums and light rail yet we do not support the officers that keep all of those places safe. As the city triples in size, population and public safety responsibility…………… our salaries stay the same.

We have twice the responsibility and work load as we did 9 years ago, yet we have not received ONE raise in 9 years.

We have been patient while coliseums, stadiums and light railways were being built when there was no money for OUR raises.





The one thing that has risen over the years is our medical premium coverage. Now there is a rumor going around that you intend to reduce our medical coverage benefits.

Is that true?



The people of this city deserve the best police department in the nation. I would be willing to bet you are pretty close to having that…..yet you show little support for the ones who shine for you.



We are not asking to be the top paid department in the NATION………..but we would expect a world class city with a world class police department to want their officers paid an “AVERAGE” salary.



Officers come here, get the best training and then leave for higher paying police employment with other departments. I know because I have lost some great officers to other departments with higher pay and 20 or 25 year retirement benefits.





I would ask for your support for your police and firefighters. We have patiently stood by while being put last on the priority list for some years now.



Tell your city and your police officers that they too are as important as a rail line or a new building.





Thank you,

Sgt. Kim Maynard

CMPD

[CMPD Sgt]

The employees fighting for their benefits are trained police officers. They are not politicians. They are not arbiters. These dedicated men and women chose a career in public service because they felt something pulling them in that direction.

They all knew that financial wealth would NEVER be part of their career equation, but they did expect to be fairly compensated for their efforts, exactly the same way professionals in the private sector see themselves at similar levels.

The officers of the CMPD, after the great work completed by the Public Safety Pay Plan Committee, are fighting for support from the citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg for a 3.7% cost of living adjustment AND an additional 5% pay raise added onto the end of the current merit step pay scale.

The men and women of the CMPD completely understand the need for budgets, and we understand the enormity of the Public Safety budget. However, had the City Manager’s office and elected officials allowed the employee’s of the CMPD to keep pace with the rest of the country, we would not be discussing this matter today.

Please keep in mind that this 5% pay raise, the first in 9 years, would only bring your CMPD officers and sergeants up to the AVERAGE level, as compared to the top 200 cities in the country based upon population and salaries.

I am sure you agree that your police department is way above average, some would say exceptional, especially after hearing your comments at the Safe Neighborhood Forums, but the men and women who work for you every day are fighting for merely AVERAGE pay. It is an issue they should never have to be concerned with, but the reality of life dictates they make sure their voices are heard.

FACT #1 – Yes, in my opinion, the CMPD is one of the TOP 5 police departments in the entire country. The citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg must be thanked for providing the funds necessary to ensure their officers are the BEST EQUIPPED and BEST TRAINED in the country.

It is the belief of every officer that our appreciation is portrayed best by our actions. The reduction of crime and complaints, safer communities and roadways speaks volumes about the quality and dedication of your police department. I am very proud to call myself a member of the CMPD, and I never forget who I work for. Neither should your elected officials.

FACT #2 - Yes, CMPD officers and sergeants HAVE IN FACT received 2.5-3.0% “cost-of-living” adjustment (politicians call this a market-rate adjustment) nearly every year. However, these have often NOT met the actual cost of living increase, sometimes by as much as 1%. Add to this the ANNUAL insurance premium increase, and the result is a “take-home pay” loss for the year. This means real, tangible, money in the bank. Many of us who went to college took a course called “statistics.” Enough said!

FACT #3 - Yes, CMPD officers and sergeants DO IN FACT have “pay scales” which increase their pay 5% per year until they top the scale, usually taking approximately 10 years for officers and 3 years for sergeants. You must be an officer for at least 5 years before competing for a sergeant position.

However, IT HAS IN FACT BEEN NINE (9) YEARS since the 50% of officers and sergeants who have been at the top of their respective pay scale have received anything more than the inadequate “market-rate adjustment”. Please understand these numbers! Once you have been employed for approximately 10 years as an officer, or have served 3 years as a sergeant, you have received NOTHING beyond that “market-rate adjustment.” Of course, for every 10+ year veteran police officer or sergeant, you could feasibly hire 2 rookie officers. Hmm…

The fact remains that municipalities all across America are cutting back on their “real dollar” spending on Public Safety employee benefits, partly because police officers are one of the few categories of public employee’s who can do nothing about it, save voicing their opinion and depending upon municipalities to be “fair.”

Some are even calling for the elimination of health benefits for their retirees. This has not occurred in our area, nor do I expect it to, because it is my belief that the citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg would never tolerate such callous treatment of their public safety professionals.

Please continue to support the men and women who work so hard to make your communities as safe as possible. All they are asking for is “average compensation” for exceptional work. Sounds like a bargain to me!

[hecklerkoch]

admin said:

Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:19:17 -0500
From: "Coleman D. Carter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: CMPD Police Pay
To: "[e-mail]"

The City does what it can to recompense its fine officers.

Nancy Carter

Let me answer that with one word.... BULLSHIT .

HK

[pacino2367]

Thanks sarge for placing the above numbers/facts into a comprehensible summary. When asked, I was unable to furnish the data, nor was I able to locate anyone who was capable of providing adequate details.

[cmpdrookie]

I wanted to post this link it aired on the news it talks about bring the CMPD up to the pay rates that are the same with departments of its size.

www.wbtv.com/news/topstories/6939927.html

[OnCrime]

NOTE: The date the police and firefighters are scheduled to speak before City Council has changed to MAY 14, 2007.

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the Charlotte City Council Meeting on May 14th to show your support for CMPD Officers and CFD Firefighters . On this date, the President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 and a member of the Charlotte Firefighters Assoc. will speak to the council members about the 2007 police and firefighter pay proposal.

This is a great opportunity to come out and show City Council members you support a pay raise and more benefits for our police officers and firefighters. The City Council will decide if they will fund police officer and firefighter raises in June, so this is the perfect time for Charlotte citizens to step-up and ask City Council to do the right thing.

Our underpaid police and firefighters have asked for more than just a 'cost of living' increase for years! It is time for city council members to get their priorities straight and pay Charlotte's finest what they deserve. Spread the word about this important meeting to your family, friends, neighbors, etc.

The meeting on May 14, 2007 is an open citizen forum and any citizen can openly address City Council members. They allow each person to speak for 3 minutes. If you wish to sign-up and speak publicly to City Council on this issue, go to: www.charmeck.org/Departments/City+Clerk/Council+Related/Speak+at+a+council+meeting.htm

If you do not wish to speak, please come anyway to support those who do.

* More details to follow *