City Of Louisville: Mayor And FOP President Announce Tentative Contract Agreements For Louisville Metro Police

Press release from the City of Louisville:

August 20, 2021

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Mayor Greg Fischer and Ryan Nichols, President of the River City Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), announced today that they have reached tentative agreements on new contracts that bring highly competitive salaries to Louisville Metro Police officers, sergeants and lieutenants, along with substantive reforms to address oversight, enhance supervision and build community trust.

The city and FOP began negotiations in January on two employment contracts: one for police officers and sergeants, which expired June 30; and another for lieutenants, which expired in June 2018.

“From the outset, my team committed to ensuring that we have a pay scale that allows us to recruit and retain the most talented people possible, while also making reforms to further trust between the police and the community they serve,” the Mayor said. “My hope is that the men and women of LMPD see this as an investment in them, that those considering law enforcement see it as an invitation to a fulfilling career, and that our residents see it as evidence of our commitment to bring major reformative changes to address accountability and community trust.”

The next step is a vote by FOP members to ratify the contracts. If approved, it will be followed by a Metro Council vote, with final authorization by the Mayor. There will be an opportunity for public comment before the Council vote, through the normal Council process. The proposal will be shared with the public when delivered to union members within the next few days. The FOP vote is expected the week of September 6.

The proposed contracts include significant salary increases over the next two years for both rank-and-file officers and mid-level command staff:

The contract would guarantee raises for all union members every two years, so a recruit signing on today, for example, could expect to make nearly $65,000 two years from now under the proposal.

The salary improvements are designed to both retain existing sworn staff and attract recruits. LMPD wants to remain competitive with surrounding communities for the best and brightest talent. The Mayor noted that LMPD has more opportunities for training, experience and advancement than any other police department in the Commonwealth; this contract is meant to further incentivize experienced officers to apply as LMPD re-imagines itself for the future of policing.

The substantive reforms in the proposed contract represent a collaborative effort by LMPD and its labor union to address community demands for greater accountability. The reforms include:

“These changes align the police department with the best practices of reform-minded police forces across the country,” Mayor Fischer said. 

Even before the FOP negotiations began, LMPD had already implemented reforms, including modifying its Standard Operating Procedures for search warrants and seizures; resuming random drug testing; and changing its Professional Standards Unit process regarding cases when a police officer separates from LMPD before an investigation is complete.

LMPD Police Chief Erika Shields said the proposed contract agreements are significant on many fronts. “With the challenges we face on gun violence and staffing, our city needs highly motivated officers, and the competitive salary pieces of this contract will help us achieve that,” she said. “At the same time, it sets clear directives for meeting the community’s expectations for reform. Those too, will make us a stronger force.”

Nichols, president of the River City FOP Lodge 614, said, “Our committee worked relentlessly, during these negotiations, to help ensure the LMPD is a department that is able to recruit the most qualified candidates and retain our outstanding officers. We feel this contract is another step in that direction.” 

Both he and Mayor Fischer thanked Chief Shields for advocating for her staff, and the FOP and Metro negotiating teams for their collaboration in developing the proposed contracts.

“These contracts reflect a dramatic step in reimagining public safety. The work to get us here reflects a commitment to pay our officers a competitive wage for the important work they do, and shows that we’ve heard and are responding to calls in the community for greater accountability and transparency,” Mayor Fischer said. “Together, we’ve taken a contract that hasn’t been significantly changed in decades and re-worked it to realize our goal of having the best police department in the nation.”

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This press release was produced by the City of Louisville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.