24% Hike For Nassau Cops; Hold Start Pay

By REUVEN BLAU

An arbitration panel July 2 awarded veteran Nassau County Police Officers annual 4-percent raises over six years, partly financed by freezing the starting pay for new hires and other concessions.

Under the award, the starting salary will remain at $34,000 until 2012. The five-member arbitration panel also created a new second pay step that freezes the yearly salary for two-year veterans at $45,000. Officers in years three through eight of service will receive an annual 1-percent raise, which is far below the 3.64-percent average rate of inflation.

Officers with nine years' experience will get 4-percent hikes each year, the county said. The increases will take effect April 1 for each year of the pact, although the prior agreement expired Jan. 1.

The new maximum with the first-year hike pay is $95,406, up from $91,737. At the end of the contract, officers' starting salaries will be increased to $45,000 a year and officers with nine years' experience will receive $116,000 a year, the county said.

Further details will be provided in next week's issue.