Parker council defends emergency police pay move but vows clearer process; accepts racial-profiling and annual police reports

Mayor Bridal and city staff defended a December emergency decision to reallocate funds in the police salary line to raise pay and shore up staffing, saying the step plan was intended to stop the department from losing more officers. Council members said the move was handled without adequate notice and could affect future budgets.

"I found out about it on Facebook and was upset about that," Council member Bogdan said, describing how she learned the change. City staff and Chief Price told council the department was down about four officers last fall and that the department had seen an influx of applicants after the raises were implemented. Chief Price and staff said the pay change was possible under the budgeted salary line and that the step-plan was presented as a recruitment and retention response.

Several council members pressed staff on whether council had approved specific pay levels or a step plan during budget adoption, and cited Texas statutory language that "the governing body ... shall set the compensation" for municipal police officers. City counsel said Parker adopts budget detail at the line-item level and that the budget ordinance includes an authorization allowing the mayor to move money among line items within the same department; she added that if a municipality had an adopted step pay plan, changes to that plan would normally require ordinance action.

Council did not reverse the emergency pay decision. Members agreed to pursue clearer process changes, including adopting a formal pay scale or pay bands during the next budget cycle and establishing required notice thresholds for any intra‑year reallocation. Council also asked staff to return with options for midyear budget amendments if hiring opportunities arise that would require additional funding.

On related items, the council unanimously accepted two police reports. Chief Price presented the city's 2025 racial-profiling report, which the department said covered 2,732 traffic contacts and showed no racial-profiling complaints. Sergeant Verdi delivered the Parker Police Department's 2025 annual report, outlining staffing challenges, training changes and recruitment efforts. Council member Barron and others said the reports and improved tracking give them confidence in enforcement and oversite.

The council framed its next steps as process and communication reforms rather than a repudiation of the pay decision. Mayor Bridal apologized for the timing of notification and said she would "protect this city to the best of my ability," adding that she would work with staff to improve notice and documentation going forward.

What happens next: council members asked staff to include a formal pay-plan discussion in the next budget season and to return with any required budget amendments if the city seeks to hire to full authorized strength.