ALBANY, NY - Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Chief Eric Hawkins, and Police Benevolent Association President Michael Delano have announced the overwhelming ratification of another new contract for Albany's Police Officers and Detectives.
This contract provides officers and detectives with a 2% across-the-board annual salary increase through 2026. This contract also provides officers and detectives with compensation increases totaling approximately 14% over 4 years when accounting for the additional enhancements to step increases and longevity payments.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “When the PBA became the new bargaining unit for our police officers and detectives in October 2021, we worked closely with PBA President Delano and his team to quickly reach an agreement in January 2022 to provide these valued public servants with long-needed and much-deserved raises, and we are proud to have done so again this year. This new four-year contract is yet another example of my administration’s commitment to ensuring our police officers and detectives have the training, equipment, and resources necessary to not only keep our residents safe but be a police department our residents and every member of APD are proud of. I am thankful to President Delano and the members of the PBA for their partnership and look forward to working collaboratively with the PBA in the years to come. I also want to thank our City negotiating team comprised of our Budget Office and Law Department for helping make this contract agreement possible.”
Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said, "This agreement accomplishes an important goal of keeping our experienced police officers here with the City and helps make the Department more attractive as we recruit new officers especially with an upcoming Civil Service Exam scheduled for September. With the national trend of fewer young people entering law enforcement, it is critical that we maintain our trained and talented members of the Albany Police Department in order to protect and serve the residents of the City.”
Albany Police Benevolent Association President Michael Delano said, "We are pleased with City Hall's efforts in working with us to restructure the salary table in a manner that raises our final average salary more than 14% over the length of the contract. The membership voted overwhelmingly in support of this new contract and we believe this will help the Albany Police Department be more competitive with recruiting and retaining officers."
Background:
In January 2022, the City of Albany and Albany Police Benevolent Association agreed to a contract that expired in December 2022 and included a 2% raise in 2022 and also included retroactive raises of 1.25% in 2016, 1.5% in 2017, and 2% in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
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