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Oro Valley police union praises new MOU but warns of command-staff pay gap
Summary
Christopher Knapp, president of the Oro Valley Police Officers Association, told the council the recently implemented four-year MOU has improved retention and recruitment, but warned that command-staff compensation lags behind sergeant pay, creating a potential promotion disincentive.
Christopher Knapp, president of the Oro Valley Police Officers Association, addressed the Town Council during call to audience on Dec. 3 to thank council for a recently negotiated four-year memorandum of understanding and to report improved morale and recruitment since its implementation.
"While morale was truly never low, it did decline during the negotiation process," Knapp said, and added that the MOU 'has helped retain officers and attract lateral applicants and experienced detectives.
Knapp raised one continuing concern: he said command-staff compensation was not adjusted to match officer pay changes, producing a situation in which "our topped out sergeants are now earning more money than our entry-level lieutenants." He said that creates a disincentive for qualified sergeants to pursue promotion and poses long-term leadership succession challenges within the department.
Knapp asked council to note the issue and consider appropriate action or staff review; he closed by thanking the council for its support of the department.
The remarks were delivered during the public-comment period; council took no immediate action on the pay issue in this meeting.
