The Tentative Agreement Would Go Into Effect April 1st Pending City Council Approval
Friday, March 14, 2025 — Cleveland — Mayor Justin M. Bibb and Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President (CPPA) Andy Gasiewski announced that the City and Union have come to a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract that will offer numerous employee-oriented benefits, including a 9% overall pay increase, for patrol officers in the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP). Union members voted to approve the agreement, which will go into effect April 1, 2025 following full execution of the contract and city council approval. The latest raises follow increases of up to 14% that the Bibb Administration provided in October 2023, plus an additional 11% that was provided for officers in the 2022 agreement – all in an effort to improve recruitment and retention within the Division.
“The question I’m asked most often is what are we doing to support our police officers and improve public safety? This is raised loud and clear from our residents, business owners, and councilmembers – day in and day out. This new contract serves as undeniable proof that my administration has not only listened, but has continuously acted on these concerns,” said Mayor Bibb. “These increases bring the total amount in pay raises up to 34% since I took office, which has been the most across any administration in the city’s history – and we’ve done that in just one term. I’d like to thank the CPPA for being a great partner and look forward to continued collaboration in the future.”
The new agreement will:
- Provide a 3% base wage increase each year of the three-year contract, which brings total pay raises for officers up to 34% since the Bibb Administration took office
- Allow for rehiring officers at their former seniority level and pay rate if they return to the Division within 12 months
- Shorten the amount of service time needed to obtain additional vacation hours
- Increase the allowance amount towards purchasing and repairing/replacing uniforms (e.g. clothing, shoes, patches, dry cleaning, etc.)
- Permanentize the $5,000 signing bonuses, reimbursement for previous OPOTA certification, and entry-level enhancers for college degrees and military experience for newly-hired officers from prior contract amendments
- Establish a Physical Fitness Working Group consisting of both Union and City representatives who will help develop a new fitness program as a commitment to improving officers’ overall health and wellness
“The CPPA wishes to thank the Bibb Administration for approaching this round of negotiations in a cooperative, problem-solving manner,” said CPPA President Gasiewski. “It is remarkable what can be accomplished when parties come to the table prepared to work together to find solutions rather than prepared to confront one another.”
This new contract is the latest investment made under Mayor Bibb’s RISE Initiative – the most comprehensive violence reduction and law enforcement enhancement plan the City of Cleveland has ever seen. RISE has generated significant recruitment results as three classes last year produced a combined 134 recruits that entered the City’s Police Academy – the most in a single year since 2019. Last March, a class brought in 52 recruits, which was larger than the previous four classes combined. That class, and December’s class of 46 recruits, both exceeded the historical average of recruits hired (~ 45) dating back to the 1st Police Academy in 1937.
“This is the first time I can remember having a tentative agreement in place before the current contract expired. I am thankful to Mayor Bibb and the Administration for their continued support of the men and women of the Division of Police,” said Chief Dorothy Todd. “In 2024, with the RISE initiative and increased salaries for our members and recruits, we have seen a renewed interest in becoming a part of the Division of Police and our retention has greatly improved. Most importantly, this progress reflects the dedication and hard work of our officers, who continue to serve our city with professionalism and commitment every day.”
The recent recruitment success is, in large part, due to multiple key investments the Bibb Administration has made under RISE. Since its launch, the Bibb Administration hosted the City’s first-ever Public Safety Summit announcing a 50% pay increase, $5,000 sign-on bonuses, fast-tracked promotions, and other marked improvements for recruits; increased pay up to 34% for current officers, including substantial increases that made the Division’s top patrol officers the highest paid among the largest cities in the state; raised the maximum age to become a police officer; and hosted multiple expedited hiring events to streamline the application process. More than 14% of the recruits that entered the Academy last year were between 40 and 54 years old – all of whom would’ve previously been ineligible had it not been for the Administration’s legislative change to increase the maximum age.
Mayor Bibb’s RISE initiative, in conjunction with his Summer Safety Plan, also had a major impact on reducing violent crime across the City of Cleveland last year that included a 36% decrease in homicides, a 22% decrease in grand theft-motor vehicles, hundreds of arrests, hundreds of gun seizures, and several lives saved.
Anyone who is interested in joining the Cleveland Division of Police should contact the Recruitment Unit at (216)-623-5233.
