Bergen County Cops Agree to Lower Raises, Longer Pay Scale Steps

Amidst an ongoing battle about the fate of the Bergen County Police Department, county cops agreed to give up a 10% raise in exchange for some job security, NorthJersey.com reported.

According to the report, the Bergen County Police union gave up the raise in exchange for a 1.5% pay increase through 2017. And, if the department is disbanded or merged with the Sheriff’s office, the four-year contract would revert to its previous terms, the report said.

The agreement also has the BCPD dropping a provision that puts officers’ salaries at the average of the three highest paid PDs in the county, has the PD making a concession on health care benefit contributions, and will increase the number of years it takes police officers to raise to the highest level of their pay scale from five to 13, the report said.

According to NorthJersey.com, County Executive Kathy Donovan said the plan will save over $1 million in salary costs this year, and about $5 million over the life of the contract.

The negotiated agreement still needs to be passed by the Freeholder Board, the report said.

Donovan is currently involved in a court case against the Bergen County Freeholder Board over its efforts to make the BCPD a division of the Sheriff’s Office.