Speakers advocate for pay increases for Raleigh police officers

Public data shows that Raleigh officers have starting salaries among the lowest across the area. As communities approve their budgets for the 2023-24 fiscal year, here’s how police officer starting salaries stack up:

Matt Cooper represents more than 400 officers as president of the Raleigh Police Protective Association. He’s worked with the department for nearly 23 years.

“The department has made some strides in recruiting officers to come here, but what needs to be done is a plan to keep those officers here,” Cooper said.

The association and its supporters are pushing for higher pay.

Right now, the city council is considering a budget that would give public safety workers a 5% raise.

“We train them. We do a great job training them,” said Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin. “Then, they leave and go somewhere else because they’re paid more. We have to ensure that we take care of our officers.”

“Trying to keep up, stay competitive with our neighboring Wake County agencies is a task the town management has taken very seriously,” said Fuquay-Varina Police Chief Brandon Medina.

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The higher pay has helped Fuquay-Varina police buck the trend of staffing shortages.

“As of right now, I have no vacancies,” Medina said.

However, Medina said pay is only part of it.

“I think it’s the culture of our particular town, the community support, our community involvement, the feedback that we get,” Medina said.

Cooper said Raleigh officers are overworked with more than 100 vacancies on the force.

“I think the time to take action for it is now,” Cooper said.

Cooper said anti-police sentiments in the community over the last few years are taking a toll.

“I think that [the] city council should be more vocal in its support of the police department,” Cooper said. “I think that’s important. I think that’s what the officers are looking for.”