Naperville police to get raises in union deal

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct a statement about medical insurance premiums.

Naperville City Council members are set to approve a contract with the city's police union at a time when officials say it's crucial to maintain highly trained and professional officers.

A proposed contract through the end of 2019 with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 42 is up for a vote at 7 tonight in the municipal center at 400 S. Eagle St.

The 56-month contract would be retroactive to May 1, 2015, when the previous deal expired.

It would give officers a 3 percent raise for time worked between May 1 and Dec. 31 of last year, a 2.75 percent raise this year and 2 percent raises each of the following three years.

Union members could see a medical insurance premium increase of up to 10 percent in 2017 and up to 15 percent in 2018, and they would get an increase to weekend standby pay, giving them eight hours of pay at the overtime rate instead of six hours.

Mike Caruso, a detective and president of the police union, said negotiations for the deal have been the smoothest since he began working on the bargaining team 13 years ago.

"It's been the least contentious negotiations we've ever had," Caruso said.

The contract comes as the city enters a new budget year after making cuts and raising taxes and fees to fill an $8.2 million deficit.

It would govern pay and benefits for roughly 130 police officers, some of whom are among the city's higher-paid employees.

Naperville has many veteran officers who were hired when the city's population was booming, and at least 33 officers make more than $100,000 a year, according to the most recent employee salary report on the city's website.

But with all the demands officers face, Mayor Steve Chirico said the question is not whether the city can afford to increase officer pay.

"The better question is can we afford not to," he said.

Police in Naperville and across the region are taking on additional responsibilities as they attempt to solve problems with illegal drugs, prescription overdoses and mental health conditions.

Chirico said Naperville police now carry the heroin overdose reversal drug Narcan, offer a prescription drop-box, undergo additional mental health training and are working toward offering help instead of arrest to heroin addicts - all new programs that "even five years ago wouldn't have been considered."

"We have to offer competitive wages to get the best," Chirico said.

The contract is on the city's consent agenda, meaning it could be approved without discussion as part of a package of items, unless any member of the council asks for it to be considered separately.

Chirico said the unusually long deal - more than 4½ years - proves it is reasonable for both sides

"That really requires a lot of faith from both parties and belief that it's a fair contract," Chirico said. "I'm really very happy with the fact we were able to get that done."