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Council approves side letter to increase pay for officers filling interim management roles
Summary
Council approved a side letter to the Chico Police Officers Association MOU to provide a 20% base-pay increase for officers serving in interim management roles and, in some watch-commander assignments, a $650 stipend.
The Chico City Council approved a side letter agreement with the Chico Police Officers Association governing pay for officers placed in out-of-class or interim management assignments.
Staff explained the existing MOU provided roughly a 5% out-of-class increase for short-term coverage but that officers who serve for 30 days or more in a management role (such as a sergeant acting as a lieutenant) can lose overtime and alternative-assignment pay. The side letter treats extended interim assignments more like the promoted classification: staff presented a 20% increase to base pay for such interim management assignments and noted a separate $650 per-shift stipend can be paid to officers assigned as watch commander if authorized by the police chief.
During council discussion staff and the police chief explained the 20% rate is intended to incorporate collateral pays the officer would otherwise lose when they step into a management role; a long-serving officer at a top step lieutenant rate may still earn more in a permanent promotion than an acting officer at 20% above their current base. Council members emphasized not wanting to discourage officers from stepping into command responsibilities and supported the agreement.
The council approved the side letter by unanimous vote (7-0). Staff said these arrangements are intended to be cost-effective relative to overtime costs in many cover scenarios.
