News Stories Archive POLICE OFFICIALS SUE OVER PAY HIKE 11 commanders say Dallas must Eleven Dallas police commanders filed a lawsuit Friday against the city for not including the highest-ranking sworn officers in a 5 percent pay increase received by rank-and-file officers. A City Council resolution in March approved a raise “in the base salary of each sworn employee of the police and fire departments,” but the commanders were later excluded from receiving raises because of budget concerns. Bob Gorsky, the attorney for the commanders, said Mayor Laura Miller and the City Council “ breached their promise to the public” by not including the top officers in the pay raise. Mr. Gorsky said the resolution is a “binding contract” for all the officers, including the chiefs. “The resolution is very clear that the raise would be given to every sworn officer,”Mr. Gorsky said. “ And lo and behold, they exclude these ... officers and who knows how many firefighters.” The raise was to go into effect on Oct. 1 only if voters did not pass a 17 percent pay hike in the May election. The referendum failed. Ms. Miller said she has no doubt the courts would side with the city. “We will go to court, and we will win,” she said. “And unfortunately, we’ll have to spend tax dollars to do that.” Mr. Gorsky said the City Council violated voter trust after encouraging people not to approve the pay referendum, saying the city would give sworn officers a 5 percent raise. “ If I was a voter in the city of Dallas who voted against the pay raise because of a promise the City Council and the Mayor made, I’d be appalled,” Mr. Gorsky said. In a Dec. 17 letter written by City Attorney Madeleine Johnson to Mr. Gorsky, the city attorney said the chiefs are eligible for other pay increases. She also said it was a difficult budget year and reminded Mr. Gorsky that the city did not give civilian workers raises. “The deputy and assistant chiefs you represent are highly valued by the city for their experience, dedication and hard work. This fact is reflected in the very generous compensation packages they receive,” Ms. Johnson wrote. “This year your clients will receive salaries ranging from $77,482 to $102,102.” Deputy chief Brigitte Gassaway, John Martinez, Troy McClain, Mona Neill, Floyd Simpson, William Turnage, Cynthia Villarreal and Ron Waldrop and Assistant Chiefs Dora Saucedo-Falls, Shirley Gray and Tom Ward are parties in the suit. Police Chief Terrell Bolton and Deputy Chiefs Zackary Belton Alfredo Saldana, Kyle Royster, June Kim-Edwards and Danny Garcia and Assistant Chief Randy Hampton did not join in the suit. Mr. Gorsky said he did not know why some of the chiefs did not join the lawsuit. A spokesman for Chief Bolton declined to comment. Chief Ward declined to comment. The other chiefs could not be reached. Dallas Sgt. Thomas Glover, president of the Texas Peace Officers Association, said the city should give chiefs the raise and avoid a long court battle. “In the long run, this could be very costly for the city,” he said. By Jennifer Emily |