Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, 509.625.6226
Friday, June 30, 2023 at 8:22 a.m.
During a special Legislative Session, Council voted unanimously to approve the Police Guild Contract effective through December 2026. In a mutual agreement between City Council, Administration, and the Guild, will work together to provide the public with efficient and courteous service, encourage good attendance of employees, and promote a climate of labor relations that will aid in achieving a high level of efficiency in the Spokane Police Department.
“Investing in our police force is an investment in the betterment of our city,” said Public Safety Chair Council Member Michael Cathcart. “By supporting our officers and providing them, as well as our community, with a fair contract, we not only cultivate motivation and job satisfaction, but we also enable the recruitment and retention of an exceptional and well-trained police force. Our dedicated officers are wholly committed to safeguarding our right to live in a safe community.”
“I support the contract—I always have,” said Finance Chair Council Member Betsy Wilkerson. “However, we must ensure that we do not set the police department, its employees, and the City up for a financial structure it cannot sustain. We simply wanted to make sure we could honor our financial commitments.”
The bargaining of salaries, wages, hours, and other conditions of employment for all commissioned police employees falls under the realm of the contract except for the Chief of Police, Assistant Police Chiefs, Majors, Directors, Captains, and Lieutenants.
