Grand Rapids Police Department, Michigan, 2010-2011
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The Grand Rapids Police Department in Grand Rapids, Michigan was established in 1871.[1]
The Grand Rapids Police Department has grown to become the second largest police department in the State of Michigan.[1] Staffed by 316 uniformed personnel, as well as 81 dedicated civilian employees, the department handles approximately 150,000 calls for service a year in a city with a population of almost 190,000.[1]
Salaries
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking salary information for the years 2008 - 2011 on ranking city police officers. According to data provided by the Grand Rapids Police Department:[2]
- Police Chief Kevin Belk drew a salary of $117,364 as of 2011.
- The position of Police Chief draws a salary ranging from $93,812 - $119,712
- Deputy Police Chief James Farris earned $101,386
- The position of Deputy Police Chief draws a salary ranging from $81,115 - $103,414
- Police Lieutenants earn a salary range of $76,063 - $80,580
- Police Captains earn a salary range of $86,146 - $90,458
A news report discovered that in 2010 the average salary for nearly 400 Grand Rapids police officers was $70,886.[3] However, Salary.com indicates the average salary for the Grand Rapids Police Department is $49,989.[4]
Benefits
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking benefits information for the years 2008 - 2011 on benefits for employees of the Grand Rapids Police Department. Although the city did not send a breakdown of the benefits it offers to its employees, they provided a breakdown of benefits offered to the police chief and the deputy police chief.[5]
- Annual cost to the department for health insurance.for Chief Belk is $12,801, according to the data.
- The deputy chief of police spends $12,713 for annual health benefits.
The data did not break down the type of health benefits the officers have.
Car use
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking information on the number of take-home vehicles issued by the city police department to its employees. According to a city memo, the department had 70 vehicles assigned for 24-hour use as of 2011.[6]
Phone use
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking information on the number of cellular and mobile devices issued by the Police Department to its employees. According to information provided by the city, there were 92 cell phones issued by the Grand Rapids Police Department as of 2011.[7] The department did not provide information on the overall costs of the mobile plans, although the monthly expense for the chief of police was $58.81 in January 2011, according to city data.[8]
Salary records project
In 2011, Sunshine Review chose 152 local governments as the focus of research on public employee salaries. The editors of Sunshine Review selected eight states with relevant political contexts (listed alphabetically):
1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. New Jersey
6. Pennsylvania
7. Texas
8. Wisconsin
Within these states, the editors of Sunshine Review focused on the most populous cities, counties and school districts, as well as the emergency services entities within these governments. The purpose of this selection method was to develop articles on governments affecting the most citizens.
The salary information garnered from these states were a combination of existing online resources and state Freedom of Information Act requests sent out to the governments.
A study published by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia said the city of Philadelphia faced challenges owing to the cost of public employee pensions.[9] The report claimed the amount that Philadelphia paid to pension recipients limited the city’s ability to use its budget effectively.
The report said there were more individuals receiving pension benefits—33,907 claimants in 2006—than workers in the city—28,701.[9] The authors recommended three steps towards addressing the problem of high costs in pensions: improved data collection, expanded transparency initiatives, and reductions to the city's overall budget.[9]
Salary schedules can be published as ranges, not as specific compensation figures, and may leave out compensation received through health and retirement benefits, as well as benefits such as commuter allowances and cell phone reimbursements. This project aimed to close the gap and provide a more accurate picture of public employee salaries for the sake of public education and transparency.
External links
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 City of Grand Rapids Police Department Mission Statement
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 1, 2011
- ↑ WWMT "City employee pay in Grand Rapids," April 29, 2010
- ↑ Salary.com, "Median Salary for Grand Rapids Police Patrol Officer," November 10, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 1, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 28, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 1, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 28, 2011
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 '’Philadelphia’s Quiet Crisis: The Rising Cost of Employee Benefits, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, January 23, 2008
