Bibb Administration Announces Another Historic Investment in Public Safety as Part of Ongoing RISE Initiative

Police Officers Have Received Up To 25% In Pay Increases Since Mayor Bibb Took Office

Friday, October 13, 2023 — Cleveland — Mayor Justin M. Bibb, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #8 President Captain Jim O’Malley, and Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President (CPPA) Detective Jeff Follmer announced today another pay increase for officers in the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP), following a vote yesterday by union members who approved the new amendments to their current collective bargaining agreement.  The increases – the largest in the City’s modern history – differ based on rank and are up to 14% more than officers’ current salaries.  This comes on top of last year’s pay raise the Bibb Administration provided for officers – which were up to 11% and the largest increase in history at that time – in an effort to improve recruitment and retention within the Division.

“Time and again, I’ve said that my Administration is committed to doing everything we possibly can to improve public safety by investing in those who protect us – our police officers.  This is the latest example of that commitment,” said Mayor Bibb.  “I’d like to thank the CPPA and FOP leadership for their genuine collaboration throughout this process and look forward to continuing this great partnership we have established.”

These raises make CDP’s top patrol officers the highest paid among the largest cities in the state – elevating Cleveland’s pay rates above Akron, Canton, Toledo, Youngstown, Parma, and Lorain.  This investment is the latest component of Mayor Bibb’s RISE Initiative announced this summer to combat high levels of crime and address CDP staffing shortages that are reflective of police departments across the nation. 

Previously, at the City’s first-ever Public Safety Summit, Mayor Bibb announced a major commitment targeting cadets – increasing their pay by 50%, offering up to a $5,000 sign-on bonus, reimbursement for prior OPOTA certification, and marked improvements for those entering the force with a college degree or military experience.  The City’s Department of Public Safety has seen an extraordinary surge in applications with more than a 45% increase in volume since this announcement.

Other recent RISE efforts led by the Bibb Administration include expanding the City’s SAFE SMART CLE camera sharing program, expanding ShotSpotter technology to all five police districts, a new partnership with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department to enhance safety downtown, and expanded partnerships with both the Ohio State Highway Patrol and U.S. Marshals Service for additional resources and personnel towards targeted hotspots and coordinated violence reduction tactics.  These strategic efforts have produced tangible results including hundreds of arrests, hundreds of gun seizures, hundreds of dangerous pills and other drug seizures, dozens of stolen vehicle recoveries, and several lives being saved. The number of registered cameras has also seen a tremendous increase by approximately 650% under RISE, and the Administration continues to urge residents and businesses to sign up.

“In all my fifty years of experience in labor relations, this is one of the finest examples of parties working together to resolve difficult problems for the greater good,” mediator Jack Buettner said in a statement.

Under this new agreement, officers will switch from a 10 to a 12-hour shift schedule.  This new, more efficient deployment schedule will help maximize service to residents and reduce mandated overtime, providing a better work-life balance for officers. 

The agreement becomes effective January 1, pending approval from the city’s legislative body.

Those interested in becoming a police officer with the Cleveland Division of Police can apply online.