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Natchez police chief requests higher starting pay for officers
Published Thursday, October 29, 2009
NATCHEZ — Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins came before the Natchez Board of Aldermen Tuesday to ask whether the city would consider hiring experienced police officers at a higher salary.
The starting salary for officers with or without previous experience is currently $24,000, Mullins said during the board’s work session.
Considering Tuesday’s sheriff election and the possible hiring of deputies from the sheriff’s office, Mullins said the city could start deputies who have five years experience in law enforcement on a five-year step pay salary.
“If we can give credit for three years experience, five years experience, 10 years experience, it would get us a qualified, certified person,” Mullins said. “We’re starting officers at an entry-level salary despite years of experience.”
Mullins said if a sheriff’s deputy were to be hired by the Natchez Police Department, he or she would take a $7,000 pay cut. A deputy’s salary is approximately $31,000.
Mullins said hiring experienced officers at a higher salary saves the city from paying for police academy training and a physical examination.
The board said they would consider Mullins’ request, but Aldermen James “Ricky” Gray expressed concern. Gray said Mullins’ request could hurt morale among experienced Natchez police officers.
“If I were a police officer who’s worked for five years, worked my way up and then they bring in somebody else starting off at the same pay as me … I think it’s going to create a problem,” Gray said.
Mullins understood Gray’s concern, but again asked the board to consider his request, citing the need for Natchez to offer competitive police salaries and benefits.
Switching gears, Mullins asked whether the city would contribute money to the Crime Stoppers fund.
According to state law, any county or municipality by ordinance may assess an additional surcharge not to exceed $2 on traffic tickets. Proceeds from the surcharge would be deposited into the Miss-Lou Crime Stoppers fund, Mullins said.
Mullins said the Crime Stoppers fund currently has an $8,000 balance, made possible by community donations. However, donations have slowed to a trickle.
Mullins said the police department currently writes 120-160 tickets a month, and a surcharge would be a welcome boost to the fund.
“It’s hard to get donations, especially now with the way the economy is,” Mullins said. “(The surcharge) doesn’t have to be $2. It could be 50 cents.”
The Crime Stoppers program, established here in 1996, offers anonymity and cash rewards to people who provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of criminal offenders. Currently, no public money is involved in the payment of rewards.
Comments
Posted by natchezriver (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mullins is right. Like many areas we need to update our starting saleries. To be successful as a community everything strats with safe streets and well trained officers.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 1:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To be fair, in the city limits violent crime and drug dealing has increased while our population has decreased.
How many additional officers have been put on the street in the past 20 years?
Merit (performance) based reviews should dictate individual salaries to increase or decrease.
Posted by mrbobo (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 2:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
we should definately pay them more. higher pay attracts more intelligent, professional, hard working people. at the same time however we should also raise our minimum requirements to a standard a little higher than simply being a resident of adams county, 21 years old, and having a g.e.d. we definately need a higher quality of law enforcement than we have and part of getting that means paying them better than burger king does.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 3:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Support your Natchez P. D. ! The Chief has good ideas! Does the BOA have any? Nothing as usual for them!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 5:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$24K is way to low of a starting salary. I hope that the city can raise these officers pay. Their line of work risks too much for such little pay.
Posted by endofitall (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree.
If qualified law officers want, or need to relocate to Natchez, they shouldn't be subjected to this.
Compensate them according to their credentials. An officer with an exemplary resume should not start at entry level.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Higher pay for policemen. Lower pay (much much lower) for aldermen.
Posted by SIOUXLADY (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THIS SHOULD NOT EVEN QUALIFY FOR DEBATE.
MIKE MULLINS IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
CITIZENS OF NATCHEZ SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
CITIZENS WANT HIGH QUALITY POLICE WORK, SO GO FIGURE.................
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR...
AT LEAST THERE IS NO "TRIGGER HAPPY POLICING"
Posted by adamscountygirl (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PLEASE pay your law enforcement as if your life depended on it. It is important. BOA stand up and take action. If you dont want to hurt other feelings then vote for an across the board raise and a higher starting pay. I know budgets are tight-- but come on these guys and gals risk everything for us. Ask for a $25 sur charge or $50 sur charge on tickets for crime stoppers and a raise. If you dont want to pay it then dont break the law. SIMPLE!!!
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like Old Grand Dad's wisdom.
Posted by endofitall (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with you kpage!
Let these "concerned Aldermen" work Natchez streets for 24K awhile.
I bet something changes then.
Posted by fraidoclowns (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why did the comments get disabled on the sheriff's campaign reports?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
fraidoclowns, it looked like a single poster was spamming the page under different user names. Simply a misguided soul. It would be nicer if everyone would post in a "Christian manner". Wouldn't you agree?
:)
Posted by ucantfixstupid (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rickt Gray needs to get a life, he would argue with a rock. He is very unprofessional in all aspects of being an alderman. He should give up his pay and give it to PD, because he does absolutely nothing constructive with the position he holds.
Posted by ucantfixstupid (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oops, I meant Ricky, the racial black man on the board of aldermen.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's OK we know you can't fix stupid, he,he!
PS -- absolutely is a very big word to use to describe someone's efforts especially if it is used with the word nothing. It almost can't help but be inaccurate.
Posted by sandra (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
we have 1400 plus police in the greater nashville area. the dept. just received 8.7 million of federal stimulus money to hire 50 new ones.
i am of the opinion that if stimulus money and donor proceeds were used to obliterate the debts of the impoverished rather than,constantly, ignoring the "real" reasons for crime , we choose to build more correctional institutions(which don't correct, by the way) and keep the same judicial practices going that long ago proved to be unsuccessful except for those for whom it is actually designed to empower. there are thousands of people who would never turn to a life of crime but we are so busy lining our own pockets with little or no thoughts of mentoring and coaching them to success. SOME care but so many don't.
i drifted. excuse me. $24,000/year is not decent for those who risk their lives in pursuit of criminals. that is one reason why a number of police get involved with illicit activity. when a job has "particulars" associated with it that "tempt", you know the story.
Posted by uneekofficerbrod (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the reason the NPD has the problem w/bringing in so many underskilled officers, they hire ANYONE and pay them just enough to keep them around until someone gets hurt. if you want good officers its like anything else you get what you pay for!!!
Posted by ucantfixstupid (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeahuhuh, I believe what I said ia absolutely accurate.
Posted by eagleX2 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aldermen, please listen to Chief Mullins. We are fortunate to have him here in Natchez and need to heed his advice. It would enhance one of the basic services a municipality should provide its citizens. Maybe Alderman Gray will understand this idea after he reads the above article.
Posted by Tazgirl39120 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
24K--humm, I wonder if any of the alderman would take that job, go to the police academy (which i hear is like marine boot camp), and come back to protect and serve the citizens of natchez.
It must take a lot of dedication to do this and to deal with not only the thugs and criminals but with this sorry a** justice system here. To me it seems like more pay would keeps officers here and the department would be able to hire good officers over time.
I guess the BOA would just rather keep lowering the standards to keep the pay low. Humm or is it just Ricky Gray who in my opinion does not seem to understand his job as alderman because if he needed help he would call NPD in a sec. but then again in light of his past actions it might take them a while to respond
Posted by revols (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The police chief is simply asking to be allowed to take in account a person's experience. Is it better to hire a fresh new cop or a person with 25 years of experience?
This seems like a no-brainier.
Posted by welcometothejungle (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The pay for existing officers should be raised so the morale won't be low when the new hires come in. The police chief does have a thankless job of trying to balance an already low budget. Law enforcement should be at the top of the pay scale for their dedication to service and risking their lives for all of us. You do get what you pay for and with the starting salary so low, so are the pickings... The BOA should be ashamed of themselves for cutting the budget so low for the PD.
Posted by SableSkye (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How much does the BOA make now? That's less than part time, and PO's work full time for 24k...
Posted by welcometothejungle (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of the BOA have other jobs and their term on the Board should be their Public Service. They should not be trying to make a career of this but a difference! Most of the officers at the NPD have to have a second job to supplement their full time job because the pay is so low.
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like common sense,how many would risk their lives year after year for what they are receiving now? It,s tough enough with good pay and benefits.
Posted by houstonhustler (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
law enforcement has never been a field to pay a descent wage for those who wear the uniform.We have to use our days off to go to court instead of taking the day to spend with family.It is a demanding job.we go to classes to keep up with the latest changes in laws,we go to the firing range to stay proficient with our weapons,we study to try to keep up with gang activity,drug transport and many other areas of law enforcement,we assist fire fighters trying to save lives and property.As for me i would not trade my experience in law enforcement for anything else.It is something i love to do.No i am not paid,i am a reserve officer but i have to be certified by the state just as a regular officer is and maintain the same certifications he or she does.But i get looked down at just as the rest of them do in most casesI do it for the satisfaction of helping the next person around me cause God knows i am not in it for the money,thanks to those of you who take a moment to support the men and women who wear the uniform,you make the difference we need to do a better job for you
Posted by shoppinglady15 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The starting salary for both the sheriff's officers and the police officers is ridiculous; there is NO way they can do their job on such small salaries; starting pay should be at least $40,000.00 for either one of the jobs. After they pay taxes and retirement they might clear $1500.00 a month; I am ashamed of Natchez and Adams County for asking someone to risk their life for that small of amount of money; that is a slap in their face; I hope the firemen make more, but if not, they need a raise too and it should be close or equal to the $40,000.00 a year too. I am talking STARTING salary, not for experienced officers/firemen; experience should be graded higher pay by years of experience.
Posted by shoppinglady15 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The BOA and the Mayor should take a salary of $1.00 a year; they can hold other jobs for their main income.
Posted by Intrepid (anonymous) on October 30, 2009 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, you guys pipe down! We can't pay these Police Officers to risk there lives, be out there patroling when we're asleep, and deal with the uncontrolable drug problems! We gotta build a BALLPARK! Laughable isn't it!?!?
Big shout out to the our firefighters too who also work for an embarassing amount of pocket change.
Posted by gardencity (anonymous) on October 30, 2009 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this should be on the ballot beside (or instead of) the recreation thing.
Posted by troypage (anonymous) on October 31, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The BOA is just a free rid for those there . Those positions should be set at $12 per hour for their time . At best it should be the part time equivalent of a minimum wage job . What they do is not rocket science anyway . Is it like $400 per meeting now ? That's ridiculous ! Natchez does not have the tax base to support the salaries of those BOA members . Some of those members know they are extremely over paid . You see some of them on TV rocking the boat ,"stirring the pot " trying to give the impression they are hard working . Sitting on their fat rumps draining the city . Meetings at $12 per hour for BOA , take it of leave . Things need to change in government , put some of the others on a salary chopping block as well . Natchez can't support any more leeching . I agree with Old Grand Dad also ! Cut the BOA salaries and give it to the Police officers . We'll be better served !
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