Back at it and now...Grant to fund 18 Tulsa police officers

[DowntownNow]

So vacation was good...very, very good...now catching up on what all I missed with limited Internet.

But this caught my eye given all the recent discussions regarding TPD salaries and expenditures under the new budget recently passed.  Many argued there was no way salaries and benefits were as high as $60,000+ per officer.  But here Channel 2 reports on Tulsa receiving a grant for 18 more officers.

Grant to fund 18 Tulsa police officers

On Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder announced $1 billion in grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of law enforcement officers all across the country under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants will be awarded to 1,046 law enforcement agencies from all 50 states, including more than $5,109,915 in grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of 27 law enforcement officers in Oklahoma. The Tulsa Police Department is the recipient of $3,505,446 to pay for 18 officers.

These funds will provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for these officers for three years. All police departments receiving the grants will then be required to retain the grant-funded positions for a fourth year.

"A big part of the Recovery Act is about building communities – making them as strong as they can be, allowing every American family to live a better life than the one they are leading now," said Vice President Joe Biden. "And we can't achieve the goal of stronger communities without supporting those who keep our streets safe."

The Recovery Act grants, which will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) through the federal agency's COPS Hiring Recovery Program, provide much needed financial support to state, local and tribal governments, and will help the nation's law enforcement agencies add and retain the manpower needed to fight crime more effectively through community policing. The Department of Justice received over 7,200 applications for more than 39,000 officer positions, representing a total of $8.3 billion in requested funding.

"These Recovery Act funds will pump much needed resources into communities through a program with a proven track record," said Attorney General Holder. "The tremendous demand for these grants is indicative of both the tough times our states, cities and tribes are facing, and the unyielding commitment by law enforcement to making our communities safer."

Oklahoma City Police Department will receive $1,372,371 to pay for 7 officers. Choctaw Nation Law Enforcement is receiving $114,998 to pay for 1 officer. The Broken Bow Police Department is receiving $117,100 to pay for 1 officer.

For more information about the COPS grants, or to learn which law enforcement agencies received funding, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.

Now the grant received is to provide Tulsa with 18 hired or rehired officers for the next 3 years.  Those monies are to cover salaries and benefits for those officers.  That averages to $64,915.66 per officer/year.

In the case of OKC, they will average $65,351.

Cherokee Nation will average $38,332.66/year.

Broken Arrow will average $ 39,033.33/year.

I was surprised by the disparity between Tulsa/OKC and Broken Arrow, a rapidly growing suburb of Tulsa, third fastest growing city in the state are I think.  While Tulsa/OKC are larger municipalities, they are averaging 66% higher salares and benefits than BA. 

Hmmmm, makes one think there is some credibility to all the stuff Martinson was pointing to in his presentation or at the very least, some areas where the TPD budget could be tightened when it comes to salaries and benefits.

And before everyone jumps on the educational requirements bandwagon...TPD recruits must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum C+ (not aiming high are we?) while BA recruits must have attained a minimum 64 college credit hours.  Does the completion of a full bachelor's degree and hours justify the 66% increase in salary & benefits? 

[patric]

And when the short-term grant runs out do they just walk away or are we left holding the bag?

[cannon_fodder]

I really don't see how a BA would make someone a better officer.  I appreciate the general value of education to many people and encourage education, but it isn't really a requisite to be a good cop.  Common sense, control, and practical knowldge would seem to be intellectual requisites.  I'm guessing a 2 year program in something vocational oriented would produce more qualified candidates entering the academy. 

So to me, probably not.

[dave_01]

Yeah Downtownnow I totally agree with you.  These Tulsa Police Officers are TOTALLY OVERPAID.  I think they should just volunteer their time because they aren't doing anythying for the city that grants making a living wage!  GET REAL!

[dbacks fan]

And when the short-term grant runs out do they just walk away or are we left holding the bag?

The article says "salary and benefits for three years". It does not include everything else. Where I work we are supposed to get funding for 10 officers, but nothing for any of the equipment from gun and taser to the patrol car.

[Nik]

The article says "salary and benefits for three years". It does not include everything else. Where I work we are supposed to get funding for 10 officers, but nothing for any of the equipment from gun and taser to the patrol car.

At $65K/year, I'm sure some of that can come out of the pay. I'm sure the police has extra cars. If not, then yes, that may hurt. Guns, clothes and other equipment should be a one time expense not totally more than a couple thousand dollars.

[MH2010]

Doing away with the four year requirement for Tulsa police officers would be a big mistake. I have actually researched this.  Here is a large summary of what the reseach shows.  Hopefully, I will get some more time to come back to this subject.

Significant Findings from Previous Literature (Carter, Sapp, & Stephens 1989:ix-x)
College-educated officers perform the tasks of policing better than their non-college counterparts.
College-educated officers are generally better communicators, whether with a citizen, in court, or as part of a written police report.
The college-educated officer is more flexible in dealing with difficult situations and in dealing with persons of diverse cultures, life-styles, races, and ethnicity.
Officers with higher education are more ―professional and more dedicated to policing as a career rather than as a job.
Educated officers adapt better to organizational change and are more responsive to alternative approaches to policing.
College-educated officers are more likely to see the broader picture of the criminal justice system than to view police more provincially as an exclusive group.
The quality of college education varies significantly; this appears to co-vary with officers' attitudes and the effect of education on police performance.
Law enforcement agencies have fewer administrative and personnel problems with the college-educated officer compared with the non-college officer. Colleges and Universities should institute some form of quality-control mechanism for criminal justice educational programs.
The best philosophical model for police education, thebestcurriculum for policing, and the optimum amount of college needed for policing are largely unknown and subject to conjecture.
The  true effects of higher education on policing probably cannot be empirically determined—a qualitative, intuitive approach may be just as accurate.

[MH2010]

I don't know why I can't post longer responses without the screen always going back to the top and not allowing me to see what I write.  Anyway, here is some more stuff on the matter...

A study by Roberg & Bonn (2004) suggest a strong argument for college-educated police officers. They argue that:
The benefits provided by a higher education, combined with social and technological changes, the threat of terrorism (along with civil rights issues) and the increasingly complexity of police work, suggest that a college degree should be a requirement for initial police employment. (p.13)


Aamodt, Michael G. Research in Law Enforcement Selection. Boca Raton, Florida: Brown Walker Press, 2004.
Summarizes 330 studies investigating the validity of methods used to select law enforcement personnel. Concludes that officers with a college education perform better in the academy, receive higher performance ratings on the job, have fewer disciplinary problems, have less absenteeism, and use force less often than their peers without a college education.

Fullerton, Ernie. "Higher Education as a Prerequisite to Employment as a Law Enforcement Officer." Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002.
Summarizes the works of ten researchers from 1967 to 1992 who found important desirable traits for officers that are achieved through college education: less cynicism, less authoritarianism, less attrition, fewer disciplinary problems, more local pride in the police department, fewer sick days, higher academic performance, more awards, higher felony arrests made, higher performance evaluations, better decision making, flexibility in problem solving, greater empathy toward minorities, less negativity toward legal restrictions, more discretion and less control-oriented, less inclined toward rigid enforcement of the law, and less support for insularity.
Kappaler, V. E., Allen D. Sapp, and David L. Carter. "Police Officer Higher Education

[cannon_fodder]

Thanks for the info MH2010.  Interesting to see actual studies on the issue.  I may have to reevaluate my position.

[TUalum0982]

not only does TPD require a 4yr college degree, they also give you a monthly "bonus" for having it as well.  You receive an additional 100 dollars a month (1200 yr total) for having your 4yr degree and is referred to as "education pay".  You can receive an additional 600 dollars per yr for continuing education.


I am assuming this is for officers that were grandfathered in before they enacted this "rule". 

One of the officers on here can correct me if I am wrong, but officers receive 600-1200 dollars a year for uniforms, equipment, etc of their choice? 

I think TPD deserve each and every penny they make, earn, however you want to say it.  I would be willing to bet that atleast 50% of the posters on this forum would not even make it past all the stages to even be accepted into the academy, let alone pass the academy itself.  The screening process isn't a walk in the park, nor is OHP.

[Wilbur]

not only does TPD require a 4yr college degree, they also give you a monthly "bonus" for having it as well.  You receive an additional 100 dollars a month (1200 yr total) for having your 4yr degree and is referred to as "education pay".  You can receive an additional 600 dollars per yr for continuing education.


I am assuming this is for officers that were grandfathered in before they enacted this "rule". 

One of the officers on here can correct me if I am wrong, but officers receive 600-1200 dollars a year for uniforms, equipment, etc of their choice? 

I think TPD deserve each and every penny they make, earn, however you want to say it.  I would be willing to bet that atleast 50% of the posters on this forum would not even make it past all the stages to even be accepted into the academy, let alone pass the academy itself.  The screening process isn't a walk in the park, nor is OHP.

Officers receive $100 per month 'education pay' for having a bachelor degree.

I have never heard of the $600 per year for continuing education.  What type of continuing ed are you referring?  Each officer is required by statute to obtain so many hours of continuing ed per year, but the department provides that training in house. The city will also cover some costs of college courses for all city employees, but I don't know the amount.

Officers receive $625 per year for a clothing allowance, but the list of items it applies to is determined by the city.

Both of these items, education pay and clothing allowance, are common across the country, although, the dollar amounts very widely.

[TUalum0982]

Officers receive $100 per month 'education pay' for having a bachelor degree.

I have never heard of the $600 per year for continuing education.  What type of continuing ed are you referring?  Each officer is required by statute to obtain so many hours of continuing ed per year, but the department provides that training in house. The city will also cover some costs of college courses for all city employees, but I don't know the amount.

Officers receive $625 per year for a clothing allowance, but the list of items it applies to is determined by the city.

Both of these items, education pay and clothing allowance, are common across the country, although, the dollar amounts very widely.

the 600 dollar continuing education pay was something their website had said.  Everything else I mentioned, I was told first hand when I did an internship with TPD while I was in college a few yrs back.  I plan on turning in my app for them very soon and get this process started.  I am hoping they have an academy in either Dec or Jan.

[Wilbur]

the 600 dollar continuing education pay was something their website had said.  Everything else I mentioned, I was told first hand when I did an internship with TPD while I was in college a few yrs back.  I plan on turning in my app for them very soon and get this process started.  I am hoping they have an academy in either Dec or Jan.

Sorry dude, but don't hold your breath.

Even after the agreement to take furloughs, there is still talk of layoffs coming at the first of the year.  I would not be surprised if there was no new academy for the next 2 years or more, depending on sales tax receipts.

[patric]

[nathanm]

I was surprised by the disparity between Tulsa/OKC and Broken Arrow, a rapidly growing suburb of Tulsa, third fastest growing city in the state are I think.  While Tulsa/OKC are larger municipalities, they are averaging 66% higher salares and benefits than BA. 

The disparity you speak of may be so great because Broken Bow is not in any sense a suburb of Tulsa, much less a rapidly growing one. 

Skimming isn't reading.