The Jeffersonville City Council unanimously approved a new contract with the city's police union last night that for the first time establishes physical fitness standards for officers, drug testing requirements and mandates binding arbitration to resolve contract disputes with the city.
The contract also provides a 4 percent increase in the city's total payroll costs for police this year.
Because the police union, police administration and city council also agreed to revamp the department's rank and salary structure and keep allowances for such items as uniforms and additional certifications in the contract, patrolmen will see an increase in their base pay from about $39,900 to $44,000 this year, said Joe Hubbard, president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
While their base pay will rise, some benefits, such as the uniform allowance, will be reduced. But other items have been reduced to control salary costs, including a reduction in holiday pay from $1,600 to $400, and the elimination of six majors' positions. "It's not perfect," Hubbard said.
Union members approved the contract in a 43-7 vote last week, Hubbard said.
City Council member Ed Zastawny, also said he isn't entirely happy with the contract but is pleased it has been completed. Zastawny said many new elements, such as binding arbitration and a new police merit board, will be helpful as the city grows. But he said a major disappointment for him is that the physical fitness requirements the FOP agreed to — based on Indiana Police Academy standards — will be binding for officers hired after Jan. 1, 2010, but not current officers. New officers must meet the physical fitness requirements within 90 days of joining the force.
Those already in the department will have to take physical fitness tests annually, and if a current officer doesn't meet the standards, his or her test results will be given to the new merit board for consideration in promotions.
"There is a physical part to their job," Zastawny said. The compromise was reached after extensive debate.
The requirements differ by age group. For example, male officers ages 18 to 29 are required to do 30 push-ups in 90 seconds, 35 sit-ups in 90 seconds and a 1.5-mile run in 15 minutes.
Male officers between 50 and 59 years old must complete 15 push-ups in 90 seconds, 25 sit-ups in 90 seconds and run 1.5 miles in 18 minutes. Originally, the physical fitness standards were more stringent.
Hubbard said union negotiators understood the council's interest in establishing physical fitness standards for officers and requiring drug testing, which will apply to all city employees.
"We just want it to be fair," Hubbard said. He said he didn't think it would be fair to apply the standards retroactively to officers already on the force.
Most elements of the contract were approved for the duration of the four-year pact, but the salary increase — which would total 4 percent this year and 2 percent next year — and the physical fitness standards will be negotiated again in two years.
The council won't know how much money it will have available in 2011 and 2012 as annexations of new areas go into effect, Zastawny said.