PHX Reporter

Phoenix city officials recently proposed a new plan to raise salaries for Phoenix police officers to make them more competitive with comparable public safety agencies in the market.

According to a press release from the city, under the new plan presented to the mayor and city council, the Phoenix Police Department would be the highest paid department in the state. 

"Our goal in Phoenix is to be a world class city, and that means using the tools necessary to build a world class police department. In other words, to hire the best, we need to pay the best," Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said, according to a press release. "As we attract these top-notch officers, we must also expect the very highest level of accountability to meet the expectations of our community."

Under the new plan, Phoenix Police Department recruits would start at $68,661. According to the press release, the current starting salary of $48,942 is 7% below the market average and this increase would bring the starting salary to 10% higher than any other Arizona law enforcement agency.

"This not only increases both the starting and maximum salaries, it also simplifies the pay structure, rewarding those who choose this noble profession," Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee Chairwoman Ann O'Brien said, according to the press release. "Phoenix is the largest city in the state, and our officers should see a salary structure which reflects that. With this change, our officers and recruits will be some of the highest paid in the state."

The pay increases are meant to attract more applicants and boost a diminishing police force. Fox 10 News reports that the Phoenix PD is currently facing a shortage of officers with approximately 400 empty positions and hundreds of other officers approaching retirement.

"They do feel overworked and probably underpaid and unfortunately unappreciated. So I hope this is one step in the right direction, letting them know that they are important to the city of Phoenix," O’Brien said, according to Fox 10.