LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The union representing Los Angeles Police Department officers, sergeants, detectives and lieutenants confirmed Friday its members approved a ratified four-year contract with the city of Los Angeles, which addresses concerns regarding recruitment and retainment of officers.
"By a nearly 2-1 majority, our members ratified a four-year contract that is focused on providing raises to retain our current officers and recruit qualified candidates to enter the police academy," the Los Angeles Protective Police League's Board of Directors said in a statement. "We are committed to working with Mayor (Karen) Bass, Police Chief Michel Moore and the City Council on restoring the ranks of the LAPD to improve public safety in Los Angeles."
"We are also committed to working with the mayor, council and the chief to implement safe and workable unarmed response initiatives to focus police officers on doing police work," the statement continued.
The deal includes a 6% raise in year one, a 4% raise in year two, a 5% raise in year three and a 5% raise in year four, as well as increased health care benefits and patrol incentives, a spokesman for the union told City News Service.
"Like many major cities across America, our police department is enduring a hiring and retention crisis," Bass said in a statement. "This four- year contract will serve as an anchor for our long term strategy to retain LAPD officers and restore and grow the department."
The Los Angeles City Council will need to approve the agreement before it can be finalized.
Bass announced a tentative labor deal with LAPPL had been reached Aug. 1. Her original proposal outlined an increase to the starting base salary of all officers by 11% with an additional 3% increase in base salary annually each year of the contract.
The proposal also included "retention pay incentives" aimed at keeping officers in the LAPD "for the long term."
"My number-one job is to keep Angelenos safe," Bass said in a statement when she announced the agreement. "In April, I proposed a budget to address concerns within the Los Angeles Police Department and to provide investments to hire more police officers, expedite the hiring process and improve retention."
According to the mayor's office, staffing at LAPD has declined by more than 1,000 officers since the beginning of 2020, and the agency is expected to lose hundreds more in the coming year due to retirements and resignations.
Since 2017, LAPD has lost more than 430 officers in their first year and a half of duty, and a significant number leave for other agencies before serving for 10 years, according to the mayor's office.
Officials from the LAPPL, previously said negotiations were respectful, as both parties recognized the importance of retention and recruitment of officers.
Sgt. Jerretta Sandoz, vice president of the LAPPL, said in a statement regarding Bass' proposal that "our rank-and-file deserve these increases and improvements as we work toward restoring staffing after losing over 1,000 officers."