Brown Deer, police union agree to contract

Brown Deer - After a closed session discussion, the Village Board approved a three-year contract with the Brown Deer chapter of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association.

Village Manager Russell Van Gompel outlined the changes in the contract for police officers, starting with a pay freeze in 2012. Officers will continue to pay 10 percent of the premium cost for health insurance in 2012 as well.

In 2013, there will be a 2.5 percent wage increase effective Jan. 1. Under the raise, starting wages for a new police officer will increase from $49,268 to $50,500 while officers at the top of the scale, reached after four years, will see an increase to $68,698 from the 2012 wage of $67,023.

In 2014, there will be two pay increases, a 2 percent on Jan. 1 and a 1 percent on July 1. A starting officer will receive pay of $52,015 while the top salary will rise to $70,772 after the two raises.

Union members will pay 11 percent of health insurance costs in 2013 and 12 percent in 2014.

Although police and fire personnel were exempted from the provisions of Act 10 that mandated public employee retirement contributions, the union agreed to pay 3 percent in 2013 and half of the full public employee share. They will not make any contributions in 2012.

Contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement system for protective personnel are made at a higher rate than for other public employees. In 2012, the rate for Brown Deer Police is 17.3 percent of wages while the public employee rate is 11.8 percent. Officers will contribute at the public employee rate, not the protective service rate.

The contract also eliminates sick leave payout for all officers hired after Jan. 1 of this year and reduces the number of sick leave hours that can be accrued from 120 to 60, decreasing the post-employment benefit liability for the village. Current employees are grandfathered and will receive up to 180 hours of sick leave payout when they leave the department.

- Mary Buckley