The two-year deal starts on Jan. 1, 2020 and runs through Dec. 31, 2022, with the pact covering all full-time non-probationary sergeants.
Beginning with the first pay period in January, sergeants at step 1 of the contract will be paid 7% above the top police officer and at step 2, they will be paid 10% above the top police officer, as step 3 sergeants will get 14% above the top police officer.
In January of 2021, Step 3 will pay sergeants 14.5% above the top police officer, and an employee assigned to the position of field training officer will get one-half-hour of compensatory time in addition to her or his hourly wage for each shift worked.
During the length of the contract, the OPBA can’t authorize or sanction any strike or refusal to work that would interrupt the operations of services provided by the sergeants, but a detailed grievance policy does exist in order to address any employment issues.
MORE: Centerville workers to receive pay increases to match police contractEach employee promoted to sergeant will serve a 12-month probationary period, and if her or his performance is judged to be unsatisfactory, then they will be returned to their former rank and seniority in that position.
“The contract is very similar to the language for the officers’ union, with some tweaks for supervisors. Our department is filled with dedicated, well-trained law enforcement professionals who are compassionate, too,” said City Manager Wayne Davis. “In October and November, for example, they have raised hundreds of dollars for Pink Ribbon Girls amongst themselves. I’m glad we were able to reach a fair agreement with the sergeants.”
Last year, Centerville named Matt Brown as its police chief, and he took over a department with 52 employees: 37 sworn officers, 12 employees in records and communication, and three administrative employees.
Joe Hegedus, spokesperson for the OPBA, said he’d be surprised if there’s another city or department the size of Centerville that is not represented.
Membership in OPBA is limited to duly appointed, sworn police and law enforcement officers, correction officers and dispatchers of governmental or quasi-governmental police departments or police agencies or retired officers or dispatchers, located within Ohio.
In August of 2018, Centerville signed off on the first collective bargaining agreement with its police department and the OPBA.
The agreement addresses grievance procedures, discipline, vacation, holidays, leave, wages, overtime, separation and insurance.
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