A New Orleans City Council committee says "yes" to funding increases for the New Orleans Police Department.
On Thursday, the Budget Audit Board of Review approved a plan to increase hiring rates for incoming officers in 2023, 2024, and 2025 by around five percent. The committee also approved a set of retention bonuses for classified officers and special pay for new officers who are not eligible for supplemental pay. That money will help pay for newly recruited officers and provide supplemental pay for officers who stay on the force.
It's the council's latest move in an effort to bolster the NOPD.
"We want to make sure we have talent in the city of New Orleans," councilman Joe Giarusso said.
A third benefit will be reconsidered at a later date. The committee deferred a merit pay plan at the requests of council president J. P. Morrell and council vice president Helena Moreno.
"Councilmember Morrell and I would like to put a more comprehensive plan before we just move this one item forward," Moreno said during the meeting.
"We have some ideas on how we can make it a little more sustainable and recognize the longevity of officers to make it more attractive to stay in the NOPD," Morrell said.
Giarusso said he's all for the proposals because more officers on the force would allow the NOPD to effectively do its job.
"People want work done and done well, and I know a lot of people are overworked at this moment because they are doing two or three jobs, in particular . . . with the police department," Giarusso said during the meeting. "The way that we can serve the public in our best capacity possible is by having the right amount of people to do so."
Giarusso also floated the idea of boosting the pay for the NOPD superintendent for the same reason.
"It makes good sense to ensure that we're doing something similar for the superintendent as well," Giarusso said.
