These latest investments join a multitude of others under Mayor Bibb’s RISE Initiative aimed at enhancing public safety
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 – CLEVELAND – Earlier today, following the City of Cleveland’s first-ever Public Safety Summit, Mayor Justin M. Bibb, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #8 President Capt. Jim O’Malley, and Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President (CPPA) Detective Jeff Follmer came to an agreement that will provide a 50% pay increase and up to a $5,000 sign-on bonus for police cadets.
Under the new agreement, trainees going through the Cleveland Police Academy will now make approximately $24/hour – up 50% from the previous pay rate of $16/hour. The new rate elevates the City above several of its peers, surpassing the likes of the City of Cincinnati ($19.75/hour) and the Ohio State Highway Patrol ($22/hour), among others.
“Public Safety is paramount to everything else we do here at City Hall and investing in those who protect us every day is critical to achieving our goals,” said Mayor Bibb. “Today’s announcements are just the most recent examples of my Administration’s commitment to supporting our officers. We look forward to continuing conversations with union leaders and hope to make additional investments.”
The agreement also includes marked improvements for officers entering the force with a four-year college degree, prior military experience, or previous OPOTA certification. Officers with a Bachelor’s or higher academic degree, and those who have served 180 consecutive days or more on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were honorably discharged, will attain an elevated rank upon being sworn in – equating to approximately a $3,700 year one wage enhancement under this new agreement. Trainees who paid for and received previous OPOTA certification will also receive payment to reimburse course costs.
These investments follow an 11% raise in officers’ salaries the Bibb Administration agreed to last year – the largest in the City’s modern history – and are the latest component of Mayor Bibb’s RISE Initiative announced last month. Other efforts led by the Bibb Administration include expanding the City’s SAFE SMART CLE camera sharing program, expanding ShotSpotter technology to all five police districts, a new partnership with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department to enhance safety downtown, and expanded partnerships with both the Ohio State Highway Patrol and U.S. Marshals Service for additional resources and personnel towards targeted hotspots and coordinated violence reduction tactics. These strategic efforts have so far led to dozens of felony arrests, multiple stolen vehicles and dozens of guns recovered, and several lives being saved. The number of registered cameras has also nearly quadrupled and the Administration continues to urge residents and businesses to sign up.
Additional discussions between the Administration and union leadership regarding retention and deployment efforts remain ongoing.
