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Residents and advisory board urge quick resolution of police contract as car thefts and understaffing worry community
Summary
Residents described a recent string of stolen cars and urged the commission to finalize a contract and pay package that will retain officers; the police advisory board chair and public commenters said understaffing and pay gaps are driving experienced officers away and harming response and community policing.
Several residents and the police advisory board chair urged the City Commission to finalize a fair contract for the Delray Beach Police Department, citing a shortfall in competitive pay and several recent vehicle thefts in residential neighborhoods.
Why it matters: Speakers said understaffing and pay differentials with neighboring agencies are causing departures of trained officers, straining response capacity and community policing functions.
Melissa Morales, a resident who described multiple personal vehicle thefts in her neighborhood, thanked the police for their response and said: "the resident safety needs to be the number 1 priority" and urged competitive salaries to retain officers. Maria (Ferreira Cesar), speaking as a parent and resident, said police pay is behind neighboring agencies by "anywhere from 20 to 50% higher rates" and said that since October the department has been operating without a contract.
Paul Cannon, chair of the Police Advisory Board, asked the commission to accept the special magistrate's recommendations at an upcoming executive meeting and warned that rejecting the magistrate could further damage morale and the department's ability to retain staff: "I implore you to accept the special magistrate's finding, and let's move forward."
Commissioners acknowledged the community concerns and scheduled an executive meeting item where a special magistrate report will be presented; no contract action was finalized during this meeting.
Ending: The public urged a prompt resolution of negotiations; advisory board leadership asked the commission to accept the special magistrate's report to stabilize staffing and morale.
