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A letter sent to the Fayetteville City Council on June 2, 2009
Council Members
City of Fayetteville, North Carolina,
The city of Fayetteville has always provided the highest level of public
safety services to its citizens and guests passing through. This to include
both police and fire protection, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Both entities
play a vital role in the continued growth and success of our city.
Over the past several years, efforts have been made to increase the benefits package offered to the Police Department. This was done in an effort to attract and retrain the highest quality individuals. Our Police Force is now one of the highest paid units in the state, with multiple benefits and luxuries not afforded to the Fire Department or other city employees.
Most Officers are equipped with a take home vehicle, with gasoline and maintenance provided by the city. They are issued the uniform and equipment to provide services to the city while on the clock; then permitted to use their city issued uniform, equipment and vehicle to make $30+ per hour working off duty at local establishments. All of this being paid for by city tax payers, for the personal financial gain of an officer. Due to the remaining shortage of officers in the city, they are allowed to work as much voluntary overtime as they wish, through their entire rank structure. Other benefits allotted to the Police Force include 401K contributions, financial incentive for higher education, paid mandatory and non mandatory training; none of which are provided to the Fire Department or any other city employee.
Several years ago, a new pay-increase program was implemented for Police Officers, with the promise that the Fire Department would soon follow with a similar style pay program. The Fire Department has yet to see any major change in their pay or benefits package. The Fire Department is still estimated to be over 11% behind the median pay range for cities of comparable size and our city continues to grow.
In recent history the Fire Department has enhanced and/or added multiple new services to the citizens of Fayetteville. The State Regional Hazardous Materials Team and the National Collapse Search and Rescue Team have been trained and prepared for utilization by Fayetteville and its surrounding communities. The department has increased the number of trained Rescue Technicians and increased the level of medical care and response capabilities to provide better service to their customers. Fire Prevention and Community Service programs have also been enhanced with the addition of the Car Seat Safety Program, Annual Safety Day, Operation Save-A-Life and many other new or improved programs. Almost all of the above mentioned and un-mentioned activities have been trained for and provided to the citizens of Fayetteville with no monetary compensation. Fire Fighters attend training off the clock, attend and pay for college credits, to keep Fayetteville safe and attract new businesses and growth opportunities.
Take a ride down the street and drive past a police vehicle, odds are, you will see a fire truck. Drive down the street and see a fire truck, odds are, close by the red lights; there are blue. The Fire Department and Police Department work hand in hand, both in life threatening situations every day. Both departments are public safety responders and put their lives on the line with each dispatch. Both are highly trained and dedicated professionals within their respective duties. Now another year passes, with a proposed increase of almost 5% for Police Officers and the Fire Department is left over 11% behind yet again.
Fayetteville’s core values are to serve with R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Where is the city councils Responsibility in fair and equal pay for equal
work?
Where are the city councils Ethics in fair and equal treatment to all employees?
How does one feel a sense of Stewardship for their community when a council member quotes reductions in his personal business’ salaries as justification for overall city budget cuts, yet the police still receive raises year after year?
How do you inspire a Professional attitude in your employees when they are treated as a second class employee from another department?
How do you drive the Entrepreneurial Spirit in a city that continually favors one department financially over other essential services?
Why show Commitment to Fayetteville when better pay, benefits and morale are available in cities a few hours in any direction?
How do
you drive a Teamwork atmosphere when the man or women working next to you
is making double what you make for the same responsibility?
Are the City Councils efforts to cut tax rates in an election year really
worth the price of cutting city services and benefits? Under the proposed
tax cut quoted in the Fayetteville Observer on June 2nd, the typical $100,000
home will save an average of $6.50 a month in property tax. Is a $6.50 monthly
savings worth the morale, dedication and loyalty of the men and women providing
the public safety to the citizens and soldiers of Fayetteville? It is understood
by all that times are hard and the economy is in a down turn. We do not
dispute the decrease in overall spending, or that our brother and sister
police officers deserve a well earned pay raise. But at what point in time
does the Fire Department deserve fair and equal financial compensation as
public safety servants? Public safety is public safety, no matter if your
lights are red or blue.
Respectfully Submitted,
Concerned Public Safety Servants
Fayetteville, North Carolina
