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Police union urges pay steps, pension restoration and binding arbitration to attract and retain officers
Summary
Don Weaver, speaking for the police union at the council meeting, urged restoration or enhancement of pension benefits, a step-based pay plan, binding arbitration for disciplinary appeals and other measures to fill widespread vacancies and improve recruitment and retention.
Don Weaver, speaking for the Columbia Police Officers Association, told the City Council the union’s priorities are pay, retirement improvements and a binding third‑party appeal process for disciplinary matters.
“We have to do whatever it takes to be able to fill those spots with competent, qualified, dedicated public service,” Weaver said, urging a comprehensive pay-step plan that provides predictable, automatic increases through an officer’s career.
Weaver asked the council to consider restoring pension features that existed before February 2012, arguing those benefits helped the department historically attract and retain officers. He said the police pension currently differs from the state LAGERS program and described practical questions about any proposed transition to a statewide plan, including details on buy‑in or handling of existing service credits.
On discipline and appeals, Weaver requested binding arbitration for disciplinary appeals — a neutral third party to review whether officer actions complied with law, policy and training. He framed the request as a protection against post-incident political pressure: “We want to be held accountable where do our actions fall in line with the law and policy and trade? That’s what being held accountable means,” Weaver said, adding officers fear being judged prematurely when public attention follows critical incidents.
Weaver also told the council the department is short staffed, offering a wide vacancy range: “we have somewhere between 20 and 54, vacant police officer positions,” which he used to illustrate the recruitment problem. He said restoring stronger retirement benefits and improving pay would help both recruit laterals and retain current officers.
Councilors asked specific questions about pension options and whether officers preferred higher pay or improved retirement; Weaver said younger officers tend to prioritize pay while longer‑service officers value pension benefits. He said the union has discussed but received limited detail on earlier talks about a move to LAGERS.
The presentation was informational; council did not adopt policy changes at the meeting. Weaver asked council to direct staff to engage in substantive discussions with the union during bargaining.
