Police officers get pay boost

PERKINS TWP. — They're only on the clock a portion of the time but still give full-on effort when protecting and serving the community. To reward their dedication and professionalism, Perkins officials gave them a raise. During a recent public meeting, township trustees bumped up the police department's part-time pay rate, going up $3 per hour. Officials just approved a similar measure for part-time township firefighters as well. The new rate structure, now in effect, breaks down with part-time officers receiving somewhere between $19 and $22.25 per hour. It's dependent upon a person's specific job description and years of service. This marks an increase from the previous range of $16 to $19.25 per hour. Trustees last approved a pay hike for part-time police officers in March 2023. Right now, the township only employs three part-time police officers. But this new pay structure applies to future hires. Perkins police Chief Jeff Musser answered some additional questions: • The primary reason: "The recent pay adjustments are part of a market realignment to improve our ability to retain skilled employees and attract new qualified applicants." Note: The department today employs 25 full-time police officers and command staff to go along with the three part-time officers. • The comparison: "These increases bring our part-time salaries closer to those of surrounding agencies, however, we remain substantially behind in comparison." • The funding: "The projected budget allocation for part-time salaries in 2025 is $76,300 if all potential hours are worked, an increase from $64,500 in 2024." Note: Salaries are paid the same as full-time personnel: through a bi-weekly paycheck for hours worked during the designated pay period. • The benefit: "By raising the hourly pay rates, we are attempting to attract more part-time officers to join the Perkins Township Police Department and support patrol efforts. Increasing our part-time staff will not only alleviate the workload for our full-time employees but will also enhance our ability to serve the community effectively."