The City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police Officers Association (POA) have come to a tentative agreement on a new three-year labor contract. Prioritizing competitive salaries, training incentives, and specialized roles, the deal aims to address Long Beach's public safety needs by tackling the enduring challenge of recruiting and retaining high-quality police officers. According to an announcement by the City, the agreement runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2028, with Mayor Rex Richardson noting, "Our police officers take on complex and demanding responsibilities, and this agreement acknowledges the skill, professionalism and leadership required in today's public safety environment."
Much of the focus centers around economic terms, with general salary increases of 3% in the first year, 4% in the second, and 5% in the third lined up for POA members. Added to this are various premiums for solo patrol duties and field training officers, including a notable 10% of Step 5 Police Officer base hourly rate for certain solo patrol assignments as detailed by the City of Long Beach. An increase to Field Training Officer premium pay to 15% and the creation of a new pay structure for specialized unit Field Training Officers are other key components of the deal.
This labor agreement includes one-time payouts for each POA classification in its initial year and introduces new salary perks for officers with an Intermediate Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certificate. According to the statement issued by the City, “This contract reflects a shared understanding of the challenges facing police staffing and the need to remain competitive in Southern California." The city management, represented by City Manager Tom Modica, views the deal as paramount to delivering "high-quality public safety services."
The tentative agreement represents the culmination of negotiations that began in June 2025, extending over 15 meetings between the City and the POA. The POA, which represents roughly 730 employees, ratified the deal on December 22, 2025, paving the way for its scheduled City Council review on January 20, 2026. The City anticipates that once fully implemented in FY 26, the agreement will have a structural annual net fiscal impact cost of $24.8 million across all funds, with $23.8 million impacting the General Fund. Notably, this agreement, as the City's announcement highlighted, supports "organizational stability by aligning compensation and training incentives with the operational needs of the Police Department."
Long Beach continues to position itself as a city that seeks to balance the needs of public safety with the realities of a competitive labor market in Southern California. With the new labor agreement in play, city officials express a reinforced commitment to the community's safety, echoing the sentiments of Mayor Richardson and the organizational goals laid out by City Manager Modica. The upcoming Long Beach City Council meeting will likely set the stage for public discourse surrounding this significant move towards stabilizing the city's police force.
