Sleepy Hollow cops may unionize

Sleepy Hollow's newly formed police union has submitted a contract proposal to be considered by the village.

Police Chief Jim Montalbano said the police force's Illinois Council of Police union consists of five full-time officers, roughly one fourth of his staff of 22.

"We've never been part of a union before," he said. "We are, to the best of my knowledge, the last (area force) to be without one."

With Sleepy Hollow police officers receiving a starting salary of $36,000, Montalbano pointed out that they are among the lowest-paid officers in the area.

South Elgin officers start at about $48,000, according to police records. East Dundee officers receive $47,699.

The Sleepy Hollow village board has no authority to accept or reject the police force's union status. It does, however, have power in contract negotiations.

Village President Stephen Pickett declined to speculate on whether union wages might require a tax increase.

"At this point, we have just gotten the initial proposal. We are looking at it and reviewing it," he said.

Hampshire's police union just inked a contract with its village this spring. That effort, officials said, took about two years.