Denver approves raises for police one month after laying off 169 employees

Denver police officers will receive essential raises over the next minimal years after the City Council approved the pay increases Monday just three weeks after the city eliminated hundreds of jobs The raises which will be staggered will amount to a cumulative increase over the next three years starting with a increase in January A majority of the council approved the resolution after a discussion among the members about whether the raises were appropriate given police transformation efforts and the city s budget situation I believe we need a well-staffed well-trained well-paid police department disclosed Councilman Paul Kashmann who voted in advocacy But I do know that we cannot arrest our way out of crime Mayor Mike Johnston whose administration negotiated with the police department for the raises disclosed general safety is his top priority and the raises are a way to attract and retain great officers The Denver Police Department continues to develop and deliver on proven strategies that reduce crime build district and make our city a more vibrant place to live according to a message from the mayor s office The raises will include a increase next year another jump in and a bump in A spat broke out between Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore and Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer during the debate as Gilmore who voted no commented anyone on council who supported the contract is going with the police Our vote will say what an individual values if you value police or if you value society she revealed Sawyer spoke next saying she was concerned about the tenor of the debate Whether a council member votes yes or no on this contract is not a reflection of who they are she mentioned Everyone up here is allowed to have a different opinion What s not healthy is passive aggressive comments toward other council members judging them publicly about how they might vote Council members Sarah Parady Shontel Lewis and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez also voted against the agreement Chosen of them explained that s because there are still ongoing questions about the budget next year We don t know what has to hold when it comes to raises for city employees across our city and so I find it premature to approve raises for police Gonzales-Gutierrez mentioned The city laid off employees in August and eliminated more than vacant positions in an effort to address an anticipated million shortfall in the budget In the council rejected a collective bargaining agreement with the police department saying then-mayor Michael Hancock had excluded them from the negotiations The officers ultimately received a higher raise than they initially proposed after an arbitrator ruled on the contract later that year