25% salary increase over six years to reward and retain current officers, new $70,000 starting salary to attract new recruits, and new schedules to support improved work-life balance highlight the agreement.

New Haven, CT – Mayor Justin Elicker and Police Union President Florencio Cotto announced a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract covering all sworn police officers of the New Haven Police Department. The proposed collective bargaining agreement between the City of New Haven and the New Haven Police Union, Elm City Local, covers 326 existing officers and has been submitted for formal review, consideration, and a ratification vote by the union membership. If ratified by the union membership, the contract would then be submitted by Mayor Elicker to the full Board of Alders for review and approval.

“Every day our police officers do an outstanding job under very challenging circumstances and put their lives on the line to keep our residents and streets safe. This contract will provide our officers with a well-deserved raise, help retain existing officers, help attract and recruit new officers, and strengthen the police department’s ability to keep our communities safe,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “This is a contract that all sides can be proud of and one that I hope both the union membership and the Board of Alders will support.”

New Haven Police Union President Florencio Cotto stated, “We encourage all our members to review the details carefully and participate in the upcoming vote scheduled within the next few weeks.”

Highlights of the proposed contract include:

• Six-year agreement to provide stability and predictability for officers, the police department, and the city: The new contract would take effect retroactively and cover a six-year period, spanning the period from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2028.

• Annual pay increases to reward and help retain current officers: Officers will receive annual salary increases, starting with retroactive increases of 2.5% for fiscal year 2022-23 and fiscal year 2023-24, followed by a 5% increase in fiscal year 2024-25 and each subsequent fiscal year through 2028. Retroactive payments will be distributed for both base pay and overtime.

• New starting salary to attract and recruit new officers: Beginning in fiscal year 2024 – 2025, new recruits will enter the police academy with a $70,000 starting salary – a nearly $20,000 increase from the current starting salary $50,745. In fiscal year 2025-26, the starting salary will be $73,500 and in fiscal year 2026-27 the starting salary will be $77,175. This will make new officers in the Elm City among the highest paid compared to other comparable large cities in Connecticut.

• New work schedules to provide better work-life balance for officers: Patrol officers will transition to a 5-3, 5-3 schedule (5 days on, 3 days off days) and administrative staff will transition to a 4-3, 5-2 schedule with a shorter, six-hour shift on the fifth day. Currently, patrol officers follow a 5-2, 5-3 schedule and administrative staff follow a 5-2, 5-2 schedule.

• Introduction of Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) to help retain more senior officers: Eligible officers will have the ability to participate in the new DROP program, allowing senior officers to collect for retirement when they are eligible to retire while also continuing to work for the department. This option will be available only to officers who reach retirement eligibility and choose not to retire, but to keep working for the New Haven Police Department. Monthly pension benefits would be deposited into a DROP account, and officers can receive a lump sum or rollover payment at the end of the DROP period.

• Healthcare plan updates that align with those of other municipal union contracts: New deductible structures and cost-sharing measures will be adopted, including adjustments to employees’ Health Savings Account (HSA) plans.

• Online crime reporting to improve crime-fighting efficiencies: Civilians will be able to report minor, non-emergency crimes online, allowing officers to focus on more urgent cases in the field. Certified police officers will then review online reports and follow up accordingly.

• New disciplinary procedures for officers charged with a felony to ensure appropriate accountability: In the rare instance when an officer is charged with a felony, they may be placed on unpaid leave. If the charges are nolled, dismissed, or the officer is found not guilty, full back pay will be awarded.

The current city budget for fiscal year 2024-25 fully funds 389 sworn police officers. The tentative agreement would result in an estimated one-time cost of approximately $5.6 million to cover retroactive pay, including overtime, and an additional $7.5 million to support the proposed salary increases over the life of the agreement through fiscal year 2027-28.

Mayor Elicker added, “This is a critical investment we need to make as a city to compensate our police officers fairly, to be competitive with other police departments in the state, and ultimately to help ensure the safety of our residents.”

PRESS CONTACT

Lenny Speiller: (203) 725-4249 or LSpeiller@newhavenct.gov