Rialto POA has come a great distance in recent years. Just three years ago, the City Council had voted to disband the Police Department and contract out police services. After a lengthy battle in the courts as well as the community, the POA prevailed and the Department remained intact. During the turmoil, 22 officers left to other agencies and of course relations with the City Council were shattered. Three years later, the POA has been able to rebuild those relationships and obtain the most lucrative contract Rialto POA has ever seen.

Fortunately, the City Council was also interested in mending fences with the police officers after their attempt to eliminate the Department. It had been very supportive of providing new equipment and staffing to the Department and most importantly hired a well respected Police Chief that was supported by the rank and file. Things had turned around in Rialto and the only thing left was to provide a competitive compensation package.

Of course, with the current economy, the City started negotiations explaining the hard realities of the current downturn in tax revenue to the City and the State's 20 billion dollar budget shortfall. After some work behind the scenes, the POA was successful at getting the City Council to appoint two of the City Council members to be part of the City's negotiating team. Under State law, a majority of the Council (3 or more in this case) could not have a meeting on City business without it being noticed to the public. With the new additions to the City's negotiating team, negotiations moved at a much quicker pace. Of course, the POA was happy to communicate our message directly to the Council and not have the message distorted by City staff as is many times the case in negotiations.

The POA pressed the City to finalize what it had been doing in recent years in building up the Department into what the City Council termed a "a premier agency." Rialto POA President Rob Smith explained at the bargaining table, that "you can't have a major league team on a minor league budget." The City Council did agree that it was time to prioritize the police department and had to make the tough financial decisions to provide the money to do so.

A three and one-half year contract was reached, immediately placing Rialto top step pay at the number two position in the County (right behind San Bernardino). In salary alone, top step was increased in year one by 13%. There is a reopener in year two for salary and years 3 and 4 have a built in survey that will again place them at #2 in the County. With the expected surveys, it is estimated that salary will increase over 25% during the four year contract. Medical was increased to $1,000 per month with reopeners in years three and four. Bilingual pay was increased to $100 per month and sick leave cash out upon retirement was increased from 90% of value to 100% of value after 30 years of service.

After increasing the above items, the POA was able to add significant new benefits to their package. The most significant was the 3 percent at 50 PERS formula. Rialto was one of the few agencies left that did not have this benefit and they were finally able to get it in place. They also added $60 per month in City paid deferred compensation to assist in retirement. Another retirement increase included increasing retiree medical coverage to $726 per month for retirees. Another new benefit that was added was 3% Special Assignment Pay for detectives, FTO's, narcotics and traffic. Additionally, traffic and dedectives who are on call will receive 10 hours pay per week for being on call. To top it off, a POA Leave Bank of 250 hours per year was created to allow POA leaders to attend to Association matters. Finally, there are reopeners in year three to discuss further increases to POST and Education pay.

After adding in all the new benefits and increasing the current one's along with the significant salary increase, the total compensation increase over the three and one-half years exceeds 50%. The POA members are very excited to be working at a place that has demonstrated its commitment to prioritizing public safety. The POA's struggle over the past few years has paid off, not only in saving their Department but now being among the best compensated in the Inland Empire. Good days ahead for Rialto.