Beaumont Police Take Pay, Public Safety Concerns Public

BEAUMONT, CA — Several members of the Beaumont Police Department made a rare political move this week, showing up to the city council meeting while a representative publicly chastised the municipality for not meeting the police union's contract requests. After a decade of no raises and years of cuts — members say they decided to speak up with the hopes of gaining public attention and support.

Former Beaumont Police Officer Josh Galbraith used the public comment period of Tuesday's meeting to address the council, who were not informed ahead of time that he'd be speaking. He told Patch that he spoke on behalf of the Police Officers Association, so that active police officers won't have to worry about possible retaliation.

"I am here to express my disappointment in the City Manager and City Council for their lack of support of public safety and lack of concern for our community and the safety of our citizens," Galbraith said in his address.

Noting that the pay scale at BPD has not changed in the last 10 years, that police took cuts following the raids on city hall and other fringe benefits that were sacrificed during tough times, police say it's time for the city to give more back.

"We don't have enough officers... not only that, but we are losing officers," Galbraith told Patch, indicating that the current pay structure is hindering the department's ability to recruit and keep seasoned law enforcement.

What's more, over the last three years, POA members began paying 3 percent more each year into their retirement system (money that the city used to front) — totaling an overall "loss" of 9 percent in take-home pay, according to police. Money, Galbraith says, that members were told years ago would be "returned" in the form of a raise when economic health at the city improved.

"I should remind you the police department was the first group in the city to offer concessions and pay cuts until the city was able to get back on their feet," he said in his speech. "Then, when the crisis was over, did you give these concessions back? No, you used this money to create other city hall positions for the City Manager's benefit."

Currently, police officers in Beaumont earn between $30.62 and $39.20, while sergeants earn between $41.18 and $52.72 hourly, according to the city's pay structure. Lower level police dispatchers range from $19.16 per hour to $24.52 per hour, while upper level dispatchers get between $22.21 and $28.44.

In nearby Palm Springs, police officers start at $30.96 but can get up to $53.26 an hour, according to city documents. Sergeants at that department earn between $40.22 per hour and $62.68. They also offer a $10,000 signing bonus, Patch is told.

In Redlands, police officers earn between $32.20 per hour and $41.10, city records show. Sergeants make from $43.35 to $55.34.

A law enforcement source who spoke to Patch on the condition of anonymity said the union has been trying to bargain with the city for the last year, and only decided to come forward after they got stonewalled.

"When we took the cuts, the goal was to save money, and now that they've saved money they are creating all these positions at city hall," the employee said. "We're not trying to be greedy, I know that what [the city] will say. We're just trying to be in the median of the agencies in Riverside County so we can compete."

Meanwhile, city leaders say they are trying to do what's best for Beaumont while "sustaining the financial stability."

"I believe we have been negotiating in good faith and we will continue to work through the process which, I believe, will eventually lead to a significant, and more importantly, sustainable increase for our public safety staff," Beaumont City Councilman Lloyd White told Patch.

White said he supports the public safety staff.

"Last night, Mr. Galbraith threatened that if any of us were to claim public safety as a high priority, he would come to every future council meeting to call us out as liars," White said. "I’m not sure how that helps the process. I believe my actions, not my words, have shown, and will continue to show my support for our public safety staff."

City officials later issued a press release on the matter. You can read the City of Beaumont statement here.

Here is the full statement Galbraith read on behalf of the Beaumont Police Officers Association:

My name is Joshua Galbraith and I am a resident of Beaumont.

I am here to express my disappointment in the City Manager and City Council for their lack of support of public safety and lack of concern for our community and the safety of our citizens. After serving this community for over 10 years, I have medically retired due to injuries sustained while working as a law enforcement officer. I have been here working through all the past problems that this city has endured. I’ve seen the growth.

The city of Beaumont has grown by over 30% during the past decade, but the police force has continued to decrease. In 2008, we had 54 officers protecting our community.

During the recession it dropped significantly, as all departments within the city did at the time. Even though our population has drastically grown since, the police department is still 23% below the 2008 staffing levels, while all the other city departments have not only returned to their previous staffing levels, they have exceeded them. The City’s actions demonstrate the police are the lowest priority to the City Manager and you council members. Now Beaumont has one of the lowest ratios of officers to residents in Riverside county.

To make things worse, our police officers have not received a pay raise in over a decade. I have spoken to several of you about the concerns in this matter. And I should remind you the police department was the first group in the city to offer concessions and pay cuts until the city was able to get back on their feet. Then, when the crisis was over, did you give these concessions back? No, you used this money to create other city hall positions for the City Managers benefit. I know that this is not the same council that was here when these cuts were made, but you have been made aware of the promises that were made. Our community is losing experienced officers to nearby cities and having a problem recruiting new officers because of our low pay. The current pay can neither retain officers nor recruit new ones. This city deserves the best. We want to keep our officers here and give them what they deserve. Society today puts a lot more stress on our officers. They deserve to be taken care as they serve our community. I know the citizens of this city want the best officers protecting their families.

Some of you will be campaigning to stay in your positions on this council, so I am here to put you on notice. If any of you make claims that public safety is your priority during your campaign, which each of you and the City Manager have done in the past, it would be a lie if you don’t adhere to the promises that have been made, and you will be called on that lie at every meeting and throughout your campaign.

I have spoken to the Beaumont Police Officers Association and although they have not been politically active before, they will actively oppose you for lying to our community and placing everyone’s safety, both citizens and officers, in jeopardy.

I hope our community hears this message and spreads the word that the current City Manager and Council members place our police as its lowest priority. And I hope we find people that care for the safety of our citizens and willing to run for office, because I will support you. And the Beaumont Police Officers Association will support you.

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