Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society have locked in a new five-year deal, bringing changes to the Boston Police Department's operations and detective compensation. The contract, which members ratified on March 1, 2024, marks a milestone in the mayor's reform priorities, setting the stage for improved transparency and fair wages. The Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society, representing detectives in the department, and the city have toiled for a condensed yet stimulating 18 months to strike this agreement.
In an announcement following the ratification, Mayor Wu expressed her satisfaction with the outcome. "This historic contract builds on the groundbreaking agreement ratified by the BPPA late last year. This contract includes the same significant reforms to overtime, paid details, and officer education, plus an additional reform to how court overtime is administered," Wu said in a statement obtained by the City of Boston's official website. Notably, the previous contract had expired on June 30, 2020, making these negotiations long-anticipated updates to department regulations and compensations.
The contract's allotment includes a 23% raise over five years, detailed with annual increments ranging from 1.0% to 2.5%. This development stands as the first significant inclusion of reforms in a contract for Boston Police detectives, with past increases not reflecting operational reforms. The latest agreement also presents a new scheme for handling court overtime, cutting down the cancellation notice period from 72 to 24 hours, aimed at decreasing excessive payouts. These modifications have already reflected a downward trend in the court overtime bill for detectives, which saw a decrease in FY24 to just under $1 million.
Under the new deal, detectives facing serious charges will be unable to use arbitration to contest the department's discipline or dismissals, marking a stride towards stronger accountability within the force. "Once again, our officers have shown leadership in agreeing to implement important reforms that will continue to reinforce trust with those we serve," Commissioner Michael Cox told the City of Boston's official website. In terms of economic benefits, the contract boasts the first-ever paid parental leave for detectives and adjusts the educational incentive plan to include more universities and degrees that correlate directly with their duties.
The adjustments also aim to systematize traffic details, by creating a hierarchy of details to ensure higher-priority assignments are filled first. It extends eligibility to fill these positions beyond BPD officers, to POST Commission certified officers and even contracted civilian personnel in some instances, ensuring better coverage and potentially safer traffic management. Rev. Art J. Gordon of St. John Missionary Church remarked on the contract's balance of reform and benefits. "This contract settlement further cements Mayor Wu’s commitment to reforming the Boston Police Department through collective bargaining," Gordon highlighted in remarks detailed on the City of Boston’s official website.
