Gallup’s rank-and-file police officers will get a 5% pay raise with the 2023 fiscal year, following ratification of a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the city.

The new agreement with the Police Officers Association, which the City Council approved Aug. 23, affects positions in the bargaining unit comprising full-time, non-probationary certified police officers, patrolman first class and sergeants – a total of 38 police officers.  The POA ratified the agreement Aug. 19.

Other changes to the contract include:

Increasing the uniform allowance from $1,000 to $1,200 per year in a lump sum payment starting next August, and the city will discontinue a $7.50 biweekly clothing allowance now.

The city will buy a new protective vest for each new employee who successfully completes their probationary period. The probationary period will begin as soon as the trainee graduates from the law enforcement academy;

The city will cover 80% of officers’ dental and vision insurance. The vision benefit is new and the dental is up from 60%;

A new subsection will grant full authority to any outside agency hired by the City/Chief of Police for an internal affairs investigation, as if the agency were the in‐house investigator;

Adds a new provision to review and possibly negotiate for “economic issues” in March of the next two years.

Councilor Sarah Piano, Dist. 3, showed her support for the increased uniform allowance.

“I’m somewhat surprised at what you agreed on, but I won’t go into detail about that,” Piano  said. “It’s great that you’re getting a clothing allowance increase. That’s super helpful and it sounds like you’re getting paid at the very beginning of the year instead of monthly or bi-weekly.”

Councilor Fran Palochak, Dist. 3, applauded the new agreement that allows the city and police department to review the contract every March, because it brings the annual review into line with the city’s budgeting calendar.

“I’m glad to see that we’ve reached some resolution, and I am glad to see that the language was changed to include discussion of any monetary increase before we decide the budget,” Palochak said. “It’s been kind of backward in the past.”

The next full contract negotiation will be in April 2025.

By Holly J. Wagner
Sun Correspondent