Fort Worth

Fort Worth Police Could Soon See Changes to Discipline, Pay

The Fort Worth Police Department has been under the microscope after high ranking officers were demoted, accused of leaking body camera footage and community leaders called for the termination of Chief Joel Fitzgerald.

The disruptions came as the city and the Fort Worth Police Officers Association come closer to modifying an agreement that would mean changes including creating a rank.

According to city government documents, new provisions include:

• Modification of hiring procedures for entry-level, lateral hires from other law enforcement agencies, and reappointed officers to create consistency in the hiring process, and providing greater flexibility and hiring capabilities to the Police Chief in recruiting lateral hires from other law enforcement agencies

• Creation of 1,000 hours of Premium Association Business Leave which FWPOA Board members may use to earn City overtime or comp time for certain FWPOA meetings or events requires Chief approval;

• Modification of disciplinary procedures including additional disclosure requirements to officers, and permits an Acting Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, and Commander to impose disciplinary suspensions'

• Allows the Civil Service Commission or Independent Hearing Examiner, on appeal, to reduce an indefinite suspension to a suspension of up to 90 days, rather than up to 15 days.

• For Special Events, as designated by the Chief, officers who are required to work at a Special Event will be given advance notice and will be paid double time for working the Special Event if they are not given the required advance notice, and certain approved vacation leave will count towards overtime for officers working Special Events;

• Increases Physical Fitness Incentive to officers for passing a physical fitness test from $300.00 to $1,000.00 and discontinues further City contributions into an HRA for certain officers that was previously established;

• Creation of a Commander rank which is an exempt position and shall fall immediately below the rank of Deputy Chief. The three appointed ranks under the new Agreement will be titled Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, and Commander. All appointed ranks are exempt from competitive examination and instead made by discretionary appointment of the Chief. An Officer appointed to Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, or Commander, may be demoted at the exclusive discretion of the Chief and shall have no right to appeal the demotion from the appointed rank. The City Council may choose to create up to 10 appointed positions including both the ranks of Assistant Chief and Deputy Chief and up to 6 appointed positions in the rank of Commander. Appointments to the rank of Commander will not reduce the number of Captains nor reduce the authorized strength of the department. Compensation for the rank of Commander, like the ranks of Assistant Chief and Deputy Chief will be set by the Chief.

• Pay increases for officers for each year of the four-year contract are as follows:

 Fiscal Year 2016-2017: 2.2 percent across-the board increase payable in the first pay period following June 1, 2017, plus annual 2.5 percent or 5 percent step pay increases for those Officers eligible on their applicable anniversary date;

 Fiscal Year 2017-2018: 2 percent across-the-board increase payable in the first pay period following October 1, 2017, plus annual 2.5 percent or 5 percent step pay increases for those Officers eligible on their applicable anniversary date;

 Fiscal Year 2018-2019: 3.1 percent across-the-board increase payable in the first pay period following October 1, 2018, plus annual 2.5 percent or 5 percent step pay increases for those Officers eligible on their applicable anniversary date; and

 Fiscal Year 2019-2020: 3.1 percent across-the-board increase payable in the first pay period following October 1, 2019, plus annual 2.5 percent or 5 percent step pay increases for those Officers eligible on their applicable anniversary date.

City leaders said the agreement still must be signed.

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