The San Diego City Council will convene next month to vote on a new contract aiming to increase police officers' pay by a margin of 25-30% by the fiscal year 2022. The proposition is proposed in an effort to increase recruitment and retain the officers who are currently employed by SDPD. The steep pay increases will cost the city an estimated $66.2 million dollars in a span of two years, a small price to pay for the safety of San Diegans that the police force constantly ensures every day.

Officers received 6.6% pay increases in a 2015 labor agreement which now puts the percentages of pay increase at 19-24% in a matter of 5 years, still a significant improvement. According to President of the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA), Brian Marvel, SDPD has endured 10 years without pay increases. Currently, the starting pay for an SDPD officer is $49,428 while the average salary in San Diego reaches to $61,011.

Chief Shelley Zimmerman is supportive of the new contract, stating, "Our officers are the finest men and women I have ever had the privilege to work with. Knowing their hard work and dedication to this city is being acknowledged like this will make an enormous difference for our current and future officers." The hard-working officers who patrol San Diego County deserve a competitive salary to support themselves and their families, especially in a city ranked as the 9th most expensive metropolitan rental market, or 47% higher than the national average.

The city's goal of the number of police officers is 2,040 for the year which will ensure response times are minimized, and overtime pay is cut. Yet, the numbers have only reached 1,801 with many of those men and women in academies or field training. Over the past two years, applications for San Diego Police Academy have plummetted 30%. Furthermore, 600 officers of the employed 1,801 are eligible to retire in 2022 leaving a major deficit of first responders.

The depleted number of men and women able and ready to respond to emergencies impede on the fluidity and cohesion of SDPD. However, the progress this deal can make will ensure the department can operate at maximum potential and reach their goal of 2,040 officers in a feasible amount of time.