New Contract OKd by Police Union

The police officers’ union has accepted a new contract with the city, ending more than two years of negotiation.

After a long standoff, the city finally agreed not to cut some leave time for the officers as was originally proposed. The officers, in return, took a smaller pay increase.

“They traded time for money,” said Dennis Danner, the city’s administrative services director. “They were willing to give up part of their monetary increase to retain two flex leave days.”

The leave time can be used as either vacation or sick days, Danner said.

The officers will get an immediate 5.23% raise rather than the 5.63% raise the city had proposed. They also decided to accept a 1.6% increase rather than a 2% increase in January 1998.