Berlin Police Commission Proposes 5% Raises For Police Chief and Deputy Chief

The Berlin Police Commission proposed and approved a 5 percent pay raise for the two administrators in the department, Chief Paul Fitzgerald and Deputy Chief John Klett, during a recent commission meeting.

Commission chairman Joe Annunziata said the raise is simply a proposal, and any final pay hikes would have to be approved by the Town Council.

"Our proposal was based on what we think is an outstanding job done by the administration," Annunziata said. "They have stayed within their budget despite having injuries and illnesses. There has been a reduction in crime. Despite some tough things that went on with those injuries and illnesses they have kept a full department and good staffing."

Annunziata said that he hopes, with the 5 percent proposal, the administrators would be rewarded something for a job well done.

"The chief and deputy chief negotiate their contract with the town manager," Annunziata said. "The rank and file has a union and they negotiate their contract on their side. We put up that 5 percent because we think it is what they deserved but we're hoping they get at least 2 to 2 1/2 percent at the very least."

Apart from serving as deputy chief, Klett also the public information officer for the department and handles all media contact. He talked about the contract negotiations and rates of raise for both the officers and the administration.

"The commission makes a recommendation and we have nothing to do with that," Klett said. "We don't ask for a raise, it is up to them. Historically the raises that were proposed are some of the first to get cut. The last few years the chief and I are between a 0 and 2 percent raise."

When asked if the rank and file officers might get upset that the administrators are proposed to get a 5 percent raise, Klett said, on average, the union members do much better in negotiation.

More than one officer, who wish to remain anonymous, have told Berlin Patch that they are unhappy with the pay raise structure among other things going on within the department.

"I told you we very rarely get a raise and it's usually lower than 2 percent," Klett said. "The union negotiates the officers' contract. The last few years they have gotten a 3.5, 3.5, 3.75, 0 and 3.75 percent raise. They agreed one year to take a 0 percent when all of the town employees stepped up to all take a 0 percent raise. So in the last five years their salaries have gone up around 15 percent and the administrators are around five percent.

"Now I'm not complaining but they are doing pretty well. A lieutenant in the Berlin Police Deptartment can make between $89,000 to $96,000 without any overtime. I was a rank and file officer for 25 years. I don't have any problem with what they are making but it frosts me when you hear they might not be happy with their situation."