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LAPD Officers Reject Proposed City Contract Denying Raises

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — LAPD officers are in a showdown over salaries after rejecting a proposed city contract Tuesday that denied raises to the rank and file.

Officers and union leaders were on hand to take their contract dispute before the Los Angeles Police Commission.

Union president Tyler Izen and other board members of the Los Angeles Police Protective League commented on its rejection of the proposed one-year contract offered by the city.

Officials with the union, which represents about 9,900 LAPD officers, have cited frustration and low morale among officers due to "low pay, difficult working conditions, a disciplinary system that is viewed as biased and unfair, and their perception that management is not receptive to their problems," according to a statement released Monday.

KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports LAPPL's Adolph Rodriguez told police commissioners that the LAPD's disciplinary system is "rigged" and that there is "no confidence of fair treatment".

LAPD Officers Talk Contract Dispute At Police Commission Meeting

In remarks made before the Commission, police Chief Charlie Beck rejected any connection between financial discussions and officers' value to the city and the public at large.

"This negotiation has nothing to do with your value. You are the best cops in the nation, maybe the best cops in the world," Beck said. "I would love to see you compensated in a way that reflected that."

The contract offered by the city included retroactive overtime pay and additional overtime but no pay raises, the union said.

"Actions speak louder than words. Saying that you value us doesn't make it so," Izen said.

According to the L.A. Police Protective League, the LAPD ranks 14th in a list of starting salaries for officers, with those new to the force making $54,000 a year.

The top five cities on the list include Santa Ana ($79,000), Huntington Beach ($74,000), Beverly Hills ($72,000), Santa Monica ($70,000) and El Segundo ($66,000).

Union officials said Tuesday members would not approve any contract without pay raises.

Negotiations continue.

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