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Friendship Heights council approves $9,000 in bonuses for off‑duty Montgomery County officers after heated debate
Summary
The council voted 4–3 to provide $9,000 in one‑time bonuses to 11 off‑duty Montgomery County police officers who worked in the village last year. The move prompted debate over precedent and contracting practice and produced a detailed response from the village Public Safety Committee defending the off‑duty program.
The Village Council of Friendship Heights approved a $9,000 bonus pool for off‑duty Montgomery County Police Department officers who provided security in the village last year.
Councilwoman Cheryl Tyler moved the measure, describing it as a small token of appreciation for officers identified by the county lieutenant as having provided consistent service. Village staff reported the recommendation covered 11 officers divided into two tiers, for a total cost of $9,000. Mayor Melanie White seconded the motion, and the chair called the vote; the motion carried 4–3.
The measure produced strong debate. Opponents argued paying bonuses to independent contractors sets an inappropriate precedent, risks taxpayer exposure, and lacks the procedural safeguards usually applied to employee compensation. Secretary Martha Sault said government contractors are paid only what is in their written agreement and called the proposal “not fiscally responsible.” Some council members urged that future arrangements include explicit standards and criteria before payments are pledged.
Supporters and members of the Public Safety Committee said legal advice had been sought and emphasized positive community feedback on the officers’ work. The Public Safety Committee used its meeting time to respond to critiques of a July 2024 report on the off‑duty program, defending the committee’s process, the use of county data, and the program’s goals. The committee’s written remarks, read into the record at the meeting, described the recommendations as products of public meetings with residents and business representatives and said the committee sought to balance safety priorities with fiscal stewardship.
Separately, the council agreed to refer discussion of hiring and use of off‑duty officers back to the Public Safety Committee for more detailed review and public input.
The council did not adopt a permanent policy on bonuses; the single payment was authorized for last year’s off‑duty shifts only and the council instructed the committee to examine hiring criteria, program goals and any necessary policy updates before further payouts.
No individual officer names or individual bonus amounts were included in the motion read at the meeting beyond the top‑line total and a two‑tier structure noted in the manager’s memo.
