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PBA Decries St. Pete's Raises For Police Officers

Tribune photo by STEPHEN THOMPSON

Mark Deasaro, the president of the Pinellas Police Benevolent Association, answers questions from reporters at a protest on the steps of city hall this morning.

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 10, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - With roughly 30 St. Petersburg police officers and their family members standing behind him, the leader of the local police union lambasted city officials today for the stance they are taking during current contract negotiations.

The city is offering officers a 3 percent raise while the union, the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association, is asking for a 7 percent increase, said PBA President Mark Deasaro. The city's offer, he said, constitutes neither a living wage nor a competitive one.

"These police officers need your help," Deasaro said from the steps of city hall as he tried to muster public support for the union's demands.

Deasaro said that, on average, Pinellas sheriff's deputies make 7 percent more than St. Petersburg police officers and that Tampa police officers make 24 percent more. As a result, he said, many officers are leaving St. Petersburg to work for the higher-paying agencies.

Those differences are not reflected in available data.

For instance, the salary range for a St. Petersburg police officer is $40,305 to $60,981, while the sheriff's range is $40,082 to $65,187, according to the Pinellas Police Standards Training Council, which tracks pay for all Pinellas law-enforcement agencies.

By the same token, the Tampa Police Department advertises its salary range as $44,387.20 to $64,708.80, according to the department's Web site.

Still, St. Petersburg has long had a problem with cadets washing out in the police academy and with veteran officers leaving. According to the latest statistics available, 16 officers have left the department so far this year. Some were cadets who dropped out of the police academy, some retired and one went to the Belleair Police Department.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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