Slowed Retirements Limit Promotions for Detectives

MICHAEL J. PALLADINO: Bottleneck caused by economy.

A drop in police officer retirements because of the economy has led to to a sharp decrease in discretionary promotions after the NYPD reached a quota agreed to with the Detectives union.

Detectives Endowment Association President Michael J. Palladino made a handshake agreement three years ago with Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to increase the budgeted quota of ingrade promotions for Detectives in order to retain them at a higher rate. However, once that money was spent there would be no more promotions.

'Fewer Vacancies to Move Into'

"The unusual number of discretionary promotions last year was made to fill newly-negotiated increases in discretional ranks," said the NYPD's chief spokesman, Paul J. Browne. "A slowdown in retirements this year has also slowed vacancies that would normally allow for more promotions."

Mr. Palladino said that there was just one discretionary promotion in the first three months of this year compared to 180 in 2008 during that period. Mr. Browne said there would be additional promotions at the end of the month, despite a report in the New York Post that said the NYPD would make no more promotions until the fiscal year ended in July.

Between Jan. 1 and March 15, nine First Grade Detectives, who earn $104,000 to start, put in papers for retirement but six withdrew applications, according to Mr. Palladino. Twelve Second Grade Detectives, who make $92,000, retired and 11 withdrew. "During the 2009 period, it shows that retirements really trickled," said Mr. Palladino.

"This was inevitable," he continued. "We enjoyed the trek up. There was a long period of healthy promotions but we knew we would hit a quota. But we didn't anticipate the economy would play such a major role."

Virtually Doubled Top Ranks

In 2006 after 3,100 Detectives left the ranks in the five years, the NYPD announced a plan to promote 200 Detectives to Second Grade and 100 Detectives to First Grade. This increase over a 30-month period from 2006 to 2008 swelled the ranks of First Grade Detectives to 396 from 180. Second Grade Detectives rose to a high of 1,143 from 625.

Mr. Palladino said promotion of Detectives rose from 11 percent to 20 percent after the handshake agreement, and increased another five percent with the most recent contract.

The latest setback will not send the Detectives' union leader to the steps of City Hall any time soon. "It's not an issue yet because the department has promoted up to the current budgeted quota," Mr. Palladino said.