City Council approves funding for Boston Police

During the October 18, 2017 Boston City Council meeting, the Council unanimously approved a supplemental appropriation of $3,256,331 in order to provide funding for the Boston Police Department (BPD) for the FY18 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society.

There are 270 members in the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society and the terms of the agreement run through June 30, 2020. The major provisions of the contract include base wage increases of 2% each year, increases to existing Quinn Bill/Education benefits, a new cumulative risk enhancement benefit, and increases to hazardous duty pay.

Additional policy modifications targeted toward departmental financial savings include: clarified language regarding officer swaps; new limits and clarified circumstances when officers are entitled to court vacation days as a result of having to appear in court during previously scheduled time off; new administrative efficiencies regarding vacation and holiday start times; and modified department procedures for officers who volunteer to be called in.

The approval of this funding brings the FY18 budget for the BPD to approximately $377 million.