Police Salary Increases for 2013 Underway

Salary increases for all Hasbrouck Heights police department officers and the chief are underway for 2013.

The majority of officials gave the okay last week to the introduction of two ordinances, one which would increase the salaries for captains, lieutenants, sergeants and patrolmen, and the other for the chief of police.

Councilman Christian Semenecz was the sole no vote. He told Patch he believes the numbers are too high and do not agree with the state mandated 2 percent cap.

According to Mike Kronyak, borough administrator, the increases are below 2 percent, a roughly 1.75 percent increase over last year.

The contract for this year was reached through amicable negotiations between the PBA and the borough, said Kronyak. In 2011 the borough approved salary increases for 2010, 2011 and 2012 which were settled through an arbitration process. Those increases amounted to 2.25 for 2010, and 2.2 for 2011 and 2012.

The department had three high-ranking police officers retire last year. Another is expected in 2013, according to Kronyak. Two new officers were hired in January and are currently in police academy expected to graduate this June.

A public hearing on the salary ordinances is expected to be held Tuesday, Feb. 26.