It is a common complaint among municipal police forces: We can't retain good employees. The lure of a bigger paycheck offered by a bigger department is a near universal dilemma.
In Zephyrhills, the city bumped its police salaries in the late 1990s and was rewarded by grumbling in the firefighter ranks and the formation of a union in that department to bargain for similar wages. In Dade City, the commission is working this year to stem turnover by increasing salaries for police and firefighters.
The fixes are not cheap. Two years ago, Pasco County commissioners committed more than $3-million annually to increase the pay scale for deputies and jail guards, salary increases that dwarfed the raises offered to other county employees.
Which brings us to Port Richey. Nobody expects the city of 3,000 residents to be able to match the larger paychecks offered at larger departments, particularly when the force's very existance was in doubt last year because of its $1.2-million budget. Still, as long as it maintains a department, it behooves the city to try to retain its police employees considering the expense of training and the benefits from having experienced officers, rather than rookies, on the streets.
The case of Officer Scott Schuck is a prime example. Schuck, a U.S. Air Force reservist, was called to active duty in October 2001 following the September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. He served until November 2002.
He is seeking $2,271, or 17 days' pay, from the city under a state law that provides for leave for annual reserve training. The city has declined the request, saying it did not apply since Schuck was called up for active duty, not participating in training.
A second state law says the city may pay Schuck's full salary for the first 30 days of active duty and then make up the difference between his military pay and his city salary. The employer also can pay health insurance benefits during the active duty.
But the wording of the state law makes the ultimate decision at the discretion of the employer. So far Schuck and the city disagree over the amount to which he is entitled.
Is Port Richey following the letter of the law? Absolutely. But, is it doing its best to retain an employee it already has invested time and money into training? No. Schuck is penalized because of where he works.
Though Schuck requested 17 days of pay, the city should consider bumping it $400 to match the equivalent of 20 work days over a four-week period. That is the policy in the city of Crystal River, for instance.
The Pasco Sheriff's Office, a likely competitor for Port Richey officers, also chooses to provide full pay for 30 days to reservists and then makes up the difference to ensure its employees do not take a cut in pay when they go on active duty.
It is a progressive policy and the kind of thinking Port Richey should mirror if it has a sincere interest in employee retention.
City Manager Vince Lupo also should consider the city's image in this dispute. Amid the flag-waving patriotism that dominated the landscape the past few months, making good on Schuck's request would demonstrate Port Richey is willing to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to honoring soldiers.
