LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department is one step closer to a new contract. Mayor Greg Fischer and Ryan Nichols, President of the River City Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), announced that they've reached tentative agreements on new contracts for LMPD.

According to a statement from Mayor Fischer's office, the contracts will bring competitive salaries to LMPD officers, sergeants and lieutenants, along with substantive reforms to address oversight, enhance supervision and build community trust with law enforcement.

“From the outset, my team committed to ensuring that we have a pay scale that allows us to recruit and retain the most talented people possible, while also making reforms to further trust between the police and the community they serve,” Fischer said in a statement. “My hope is that the men and women of LMPD see this as an investment in them, that those considering law enforcement see it as an invitation to a fulfilling career, and that our residents see it as evidence of our commitment to bring major reformative changes to address accountability and community trust.”

Louisville began negotiations with the FOP in January on two employment contracts: one for police officers and sergeants, which expired June 30; and another for lieutenants, which expired over three years ago.

What comes next is a vote by FOP members to ratify the contracts. If approved, it'll be followed by a Metro Council vote, with final authorization in the hands of Fischer. Public comments will be welcome before the Council vote through the normal Council process.

The proposal will be shared with the public when delivered to union members within the next few days. The FOP vote is expected the week of September 6, Fischer's office said.

The proposed contracts include significant salary increases over the next two years for both rank-and-file officers and mid-level staff:

• In this fiscal year, starting officers will make just over $49,500. By next year, FY 2023, officers’ salaries will range from $51,000 to nearly $79,000 at career end.
• Sergeants’ salaries will range from $78,700 to $93,500 in FY23.
• Lieutenants’ salaries will be $98,000 to $123,100 in FY23.
• The contract would guarantee raises for all union members every two years, so a recruit signing on today, for example, could expect to make nearly $65,000 two years from now under the proposal.

With the new salary improvements, LMPD hopes to remain competitive with surrounding communities. Fischer noted that LMPD has more opportunities for training, experience and advancement than any other police department in the Commonwealth.

The substantive reforms in the proposed contract represent a collaborative effort by LMPD and its labor union to address community demands for greater accountability. The reforms include:

• Enhancements to discipline, oversight, and record retention;
• Mandatory critical-incident alcohol and drug testing;
• Required training to Internal Affairs investigators;
• Retaining past findings of bias, untruthfulness, excessive force, sexual misconduct and other criminal conduct as permanent parts of disciplinary records.
• Recognition of the Inspector General and the Citizens Review and Accountability Board;
• Opportunities to build community relations through volunteerism and engagement.

“These changes align the police department with the best practices of reform-minded police forces across the country,” Mayor Fischer said. 

LMPD Police Chief Erika Shields said the proposed contract agreements are significant on many fronts.

“With the challenges we face on gun violence and staffing, our city needs highly motivated officers, and the competitive salary pieces of this contract will help us achieve that,” she said. “At the same time, it sets clear directives for meeting the community’s expectations for reform. Those too, will make us a stronger force.”

FOP President Nichols said it's a step in the right direction.

“Our committee worked relentlessly, during these negotiations, to help ensure the LMPD is a department that is able to recruit the most qualified candidates and retain our outstanding officers," Nichols said. "We feel this contract is another step in that direction.”