Dewey Beach police contract finalized

After voting to unionize in January, the Dewey Beach Police Department has negotiated its first contract with town officials as a member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 22. 

All full-time and part-time Dewey officers, except the chief of police, are represented by FOP Lodge 22 and covered by the collective bargaining agreement.

Town Manager Bill Zolper said the negotiations went very well, and that clear definitions on officer salaries will make budgeting easier for the next three years.

The three-year employment contract ends March 31, 2027, although the agreement will remain in effect until both parties enter a new contract. It includes details on officers’ rights, grievance and arbitration procedures, benefits, and the department rank, staffing and salary structures.

Regarding ranks, a recruit who is in the police academy is named patrolman upon graduation; one year from the graduation date, he or she is elevated to patrolman first class.

The rank of corporal is attained three years from the date of promotion to patrolman first class, and must include a completed FBI LEEDA supervisor class and field training officer class before promotion.

Staff corporals may be named two years after their date of promotion to corporal, and may be elevated to master corporal two years after being named staff corporal.

Sergeants must have a minimum of two years as a staff corporal before competitive testing, and there must be an open position. According to the contract, Dewey Beach Police Department is to have two sergeant positions.

The lieutenant must have five years’ service as a sergeant, or when an opening occurs, must complete competitive testing, which will be chosen by the chief. There will be one lieutenant position in the department.

Regarding salaries, officers will receive 3% raises on April 1, 2025 and 2026. Part-time officers will be paid at the patrolman first class rate according to their years of service. 

The lieutenant salary is $98,134; the sergeant salary is $84,751; the staff corporal salary is $76,842; the corporal salary is $73,851; and the patrolman salary is $62,060.

The department has three part-time patrolman first class officers, who are paid between $31.33 and $36.37 per hour, based on their years of service.

The town pays 100% of the cost of medical coverage for officers and their qualifying dependents.

All officers have the right to join or refrain from joining the union; members’ dues will be deducted biweekly from regularly scheduled pay dates.

Chief Constance Speake said she believes the contract will help with recruitment and retention.

“Our contract negotiations went very smoothly,” Speake said. “Everyone was professional and worked together to create a fair contract for the officers and the town.”

Mayor Bill Stevens said the town and FOP were able to easily meet in the middle with mutual respect and a willingness to see each other’s issues and limitations.

“We sincerely care about all of our employees and the process of unionization did not change that,” Stevens said. “The biggest issue we face is the same issue every town and business are facing, which is the growing cost of healthcare here in the state of Delaware.”     

The full contract, including pay scales, is available at tinyurl.com/5ehryz5b.