11/30/2014

Councilgrantsinitialapprovalofpoliceraises

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Councilgrantsinitialapprovalofpoliceraises
LocalPolitics,News|DelmarvaCrossroads|September14,20128:00am
ByReedShelton,StaffWriter
SALISBURYDespitevocaloppositionfromothercityemployees,ameasuretograntraisestomembersoftheSalisburyPoliceDepartmentis
closertoadoption.
TheCityCouncilvotedunanimouslySept.10toapprovefirstreadingoftheordinance,whichwouldallottheSPDanadditional$447,607.44for
fiscalyear2013.
Thefundsareslatedtobeusedtoadjustpolicesalarieswiththeintentofrecruitingandretainingexperiencedofficersandremainingcompetitive
withotheragenciesoutsideofSalisbury.TheSPDhasstruggledforsometimetobattleashortageofwelltrainedofficers,manyofwhomareleaving
thedepartmenttoseekmorefavorablepositionsinotherareas.
SPDChiefBarbaraDuncansaidherdepartmenthas92swornofficersand30civilianstoserveapopulationofabout30,300.In2011,shesaid,the
SPDhandled51,000callsforservice.Annapolisemploys116swornofficersthatrespondedto38,700callslastyear,andDover,Del.s93sworn
officershandled33,692calls.
DuncanfurtherpointedoutthateachSPDofficerhandles,onaverage,1,085callsforserviceeachyear,comparedtoAnnapolis824andDovers
716.
Thequalityissomewhatstrained,justbyvirtueofthejobload,thecallsforservice,(and)theworkload,Duncansaid.(Speaking)asachiefofa
metropolitanagency,thatqualitycannotbestrained.Weworktoserveapopulationthatdeservestheabsolutebest.
Duncansaidanumberofswornandcivilianservicemembersinherdepartmentareactivelyseekinglawenforcementandotherjobselsewherethat
wouldofferbettersalariesoralighterworkload.At$36,400,theSPDhastheloweststartingsalaryofanypoliceagencyontheEasternShore.
(Candidates)knowthatafterservinganywherefromtwotofiveyearswithus,thereregoingtobequalifiedtoworkanywhere,Duncansaid.And
theyreright.Becauseofthevolume,becauseofthenatureoftheworkthattheydohereandtheexperiencestheyreexposedto,theyregoingtobe
hiredelsewhere.
Duncansaidshewouldratherseethosewelldisciplined,trainedindividualsremainhereinSalisbury.
WicomicoCountyStatesAttorneyMattMaciarelloexpressedthenegativeeffectsofanunderfunded,overworkedpoliceforcefromaprosecutorial
pointofview.
Myburdenineverysinglecaseistoprove(it)beyondareasonabledoubt.Thoseofficersnotonlyhavetoinvestigate,theyhavetorundownleads,
(andexamine)otherpossiblewaysthatthecrimehasbeencommitted,Maciarellosaid.Wereseeingofficerssaytimeandagain,Imtoobusy,or
wereseeingthattheyrejustrunningoutoftimeandnotfollowinguponthethingsweneed.Theyreworkingashardastheycan,butwhenquantity
increases,thequalitysgoingtoslide.
Yetdespitetheconcurringopinionsgiven,therewasampledisagreementfromtheSalisburyPublicWorksDepartment.
ProjectEngineerJanaPotvinsaidwhilesheisappreciativeeverydaythattheSPDgoesouttodotheirjob,shefeelsthatthecityisnotfairly
consideringallemployeesforpayincreases.
Iknowthatresidentswanttobeassuredthattheroadstheydriveonwillnotbeflooded,norwillbridgescollapse,thattherewontbestreetlights
thatdontwork,andtheywanttheirgarbagecollected,Potvinsaid.Residentswantassurancethatthewatertheydrinkmeetssafedrinkingwater
standards.Idontdisagreethatpoliceplayavitalroleinthiscommunity,butitisnomorevitalthanthatofPublicWorksoranydepartmentwithin
thecity.
CouncilwomanShanieShieldssheshespreparedtoadvocateforaonestepsalaryincreaseforallcityemployees.
http://www.delmarvacrossroads.com/councilgrantsinitialapprovalofpoliceraises/

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11/30/2014

Councilgrantsinitialapprovalofpoliceraises

Iagreeitsbeentoolongforall(city)employeesnottogettheirraise,Shieldssaid.Youhavetotreateveryoneequal,becauseweresupposedto
beonebighappyfamily,andyoudontwanttopitonedepartmentagainstanother.
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