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Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania, 2008-2011
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The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is composed of approximately 900 sworn law enforcement officers.[1]
Salaries and benefits
Sunshine Review requested Pittsburgh Bureau of Police salaries from 2008 to 2011. The information was gathered from county data after Sunshine Review filed a public records request.[2] Sunshine Review was seeking data on the number of bureau employees earning over $150,000 in annual salaries, as well as salary and benefit information for the entire police force.
No employees of the Bureau of Police earned more than $150,000 annually. Only one employee of the department earned more than $100,000. Salaries for 2009 and 2010 remained the same.[2]
2011 salaries
- Police Chief Nathan Harper, who had served in the position since 2006, earned a salary of $101,369.01.[2]
- Paul Donaldson, deputy chief of police, earned a salary of $95,754.
- There were three assistant police chiefs each earning a salary of $90,139.09.
- There were 24 police lieutenants with a salary of $74,433.01.
- There were 83 police sergeants earning $65,292.03.
- There were 440 police detectives and other positions garnering a salary of $59,851.17.
- Pittsburgh fielded 243 4th-year officers earning a salary of $57,274.05.
2010 salaries
- Harper earned a salary of $99,381.36.[2]
- Donaldson took home $93,876.64.
- Three assistant police chiefs earned $88,372.34.
- Police lieutenants earned $72,973.68.
- The sergeants earned $64,012.
- Detectives earned a salary of $58,677.84.
2009 salaries
- Harper earned a salary of $99,381.36.[2]
- Donaldson took home $93,876.64.
- Three assistant police chiefs earned $88,372.34.
- Police lieutenants earned $72,973.68.
- The sergeants earned $64,012.
- Detectives earned a salary of $58,677.84.
2008 salaries
- Harper earned $96,957.33.[2]
- Donaldson earned a salary of $91,586.77.
- Three assistant police chiefs earned a salary of $86,216.83.
- 25 police lieutenants eared a salary of $71,193.23.
- 82 police sergeants earned a salary of $62,450.13.
- 259 police detectives and other ranking positions earned a salary of $57,245.97.
- 4th-year officers earned a salary of $54,781.38.
Benefits
Information on employee benefits was not provided.
Phone use
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police did not provide information to Sunshine Review on cell phone use by the department, including number of phones and other mobile devices issued, as well as the amount budgeted for the devices and plans.
Car use
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police did not provide information to Sunshine Review on the number of automobiles used by the department, including the amount budgeted for the maintenance and replacement.
According to The Pittsburgh Tribune, the City of Pittsburgh had 992 vehicles as of January 2010. The cost of repairing those vehicles had risen 47% from 2008 to 2009. The report did not specify how many vehicles were operated by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.[3]
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.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4]
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.
See also
External links
- Pittsburgh Bureau of Police official website
- Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Annual Report 2010
- Police Officer Recruitment -- Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire
- Law Enforcement Preparation Center -- Police Officer Annual Salary
- State Budget Solutions -- Pennsylvania
Footnotes
- ↑ Pittsburgh Police
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Pittsburgh Fire and Police Department Salaries, via public records request
- ↑ Pittsburgh Tribune "Pittsburgh controller wants city to examine vehicle maintenance"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 '’Philadelphia’s Quiet Crisis: The Rising Cost of Employee Benefits, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, January 23, 2008
