HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolice Leaving for Better Pay-1979 Police leaving-c"-as
for better pay
Within a nine-month period in Winter Springs, eight
police officers and I2 dispatchers have quit and nearly
all the firefighters have applications in at other
departments.
City Councilman John Bennett has attributed the
large turnover to low salary ranges for city employees.
Having conducted a salary survey among the cities
of Winter Springs,Casselberry and Longwood in prep-
aration for the 19791980 budget, Bennett said that
salaries for firefighters in Winter Springs are .29 per-
cent below the average salary of the three cities.
Salaries for police officers in Winter Springs are 9.8
percent below the average,while salaries for dispatch-
ers are 9 percent below the average, the survey
showed.
Bennett said,"The only personnel we are attracting
is young people fresh out of the police academy look-
ing for training and experience."- -
During the nine-month period, the police depart-
ment employed-12 halftime sworn officers, along with
two employees hired under the Comprehensive Em-
ployment Training Act(CETA).
Of the eight police officers wife quit the departr-
ment, five stayed with the city less than a year. Only
one of those officers had more than a year's exper-
ience In law enforcement.
The other three officers who roNgned were fresh out
of the police academy when they started with the city.
They stayed less than 31/2 years.
Fire Chief Chuck Holzman stated In a letter to coun-
cil that"nearly all of our firefighters have applications
in at other departments."There are 16 employed with
the city.
According to Bennett's survey, police in Winter
Spriggs start opt making $8,442 per year, while otfi-
ders ky tongwqMsstartangatt„Wietsfid..$10,010 in
Cesselbertf k.
Firefighters ate paid $8,442 in Winter Springs,
$8,000 An liepgwaod and $9,620,per year in Cassel-
berry. -But t:%aka•r 1. Winter Springs firefighters still are
paid $245 P than the average salary paid by the
three cities.I t
Dispatcher$n the three cities handle complaints for
both the polies- fire departments.
Winter SQ$rgs dispatchers start out at $6,300 per
year, while salaries are $7,020 in Longwood and
$7,488 In Casselberry.
Bennett proposed to council that the base salaries in
the police gjdjre;department be increased nearer to
the salaries now paid hits sister cities.
However, Mayor Troy Inland disagreed. "I don't
compare our city with them.We are a unique city in
that,..thst,.we Appal have the number of commercial estab-
101findide. Most of the calls handled by police are
kor}pcall*,Sand family disturbances.
'1 can't juW4'piing patrolmen more than,firemen.
It should be equal value for services performed," in-
land said.
naanddid,'kowever,propose that all city employees
receive a 8 percent pay raise for the 1979-1980 fiscal
phis another on the em-
ployee", tyb w�the city.