Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: MARCH 2017 37 A police officer keeps an eye on the crowd on the 16th hole during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona recently. (Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR) T he tentative con- tract agreement recentlyreached between the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (NYCPBA) and the City of New York represents a significant shift in that municipality’s ap- proach to compensating the police officers on the nation’s largest force. After several years of bar- gaining and vocal advocacy by the NYCPBA, New York City has at last recognized a basic truth about the job that police officers do – a different job, one filled with growing risk and ever-in- creasing challenges and demands. For the first time ever, the city has proposed a permanent pay differential that addresses the added re- sponsibilities and increased scrutiny its officers face. A “Neighborhood Polic- ing Differential” of 2.25% of base salary (on top of a package of general wage increases with no zeroes) will apply to every single NYCPBA member in per- petuity. It’s not a one-time bonus or a perk for only certain members of the bargaining unit but a recognition that all New York City police of- ficers’ duties are constantly changing and growing. Besides acknowledging the unique nature of the job, the city also finally agreed to correct its long-standing failure to protect members injured in the line of duty. An agreement between the NYCPBA and the city to jointly pursue pension enhancement legislation will restore certain disability benefits for recently hired police officers left unpro- tected by a 2009 veto of a pension extender bill by New York’s then-Governor David Paterson. Once enacted, the legisla- tion will put an end to the unjust situation in which police officers disabled on the job would have received a pension benefit of as little as $34 a day. Many other positive com- ponents are included in the deal — including more vacation days for recently- hired members, a lump sum terminal leave cash-out, and significant new contribu- tions to the union’s Health & Welfare Funds. But the most important feature is that it continues to pave the way towards the union’s ultimate bargaining goal, to restore New York City police officers – who protect a city that is, along with perhaps Washington, the country’s prime terror- ist target – to their rightful place among the highest paid police officers in the United States. That fight is far from over, but the terms of this contract will open new paths towards reaching that goal, without closing off any exist- ing ones. Officers get raise, better health care and more More protection for injured officers and a long term goal to have NYPD cops the highest paid in the nation PBA President Pat Lynch at the podium at City Hall an- nouncing the contract for 24,000 NYPD patrol officers the union represents. The contract will be voted up or down by the members.