Suffolk County approves new police detectives union contract, with 18% pay bump over 5 years

The Suffolk County Legislature approved a new police detectives contract that raises base pay by 18% over five years.

The contract for the 323-member union mirrors earlier agreements the county reached with the Police Benevolent Association and Superior Officers Association.

The legislature unanimously approved the contract at a special meeting Wednesday in Hauppauge. Two legislators were absent.

"I think this is a great contract for both the county and for members of my organization," said George Michels, the union president. "I think we went a long way to trying to help the county through the financial aspect of this."

The contract runs Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2029.

This is the first contract Michels has negotiated since becoming president two years ago. He told Newsday the deal  includes some items unique to detectives in terms of specialized units.

“There's some stipends involved for specialized units that have difficult cases" that will help new detectives take on jobs “that otherwise they may pass on," he said.

The union ratified the contract with 90% approval of the 281 members who voted, Michels said.

"This is a fair and just contract, the result of lengthy negotiations that were focused on providing benefits to Suffolk's dedicated detectives and protects taxpayers," Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said in a statement.

The contract reduces the current nine-step scale to top pay to six steps, according to the Memorandum of Agreement, which outlines changes in the contract.

The contract also increases longevity pay by $25 each year to $650 retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. The figures rises each year up to $750 to Jan. 1, 2029. An additional $2,000 longevity payment will be included to members with 20 or more years of service at any rank in the department, according to the agreement.

Those increases also mirror earlier agreements reached with other police unions through so-called pattern bargaining.

A Budget Review Office analysis of the contract was not yet available.

The agreement also says members may contribute no more than 50 sick days to a sick leave bank during their final three years of employment. The agreement also says members will not oppose receiving cellphones.

Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), the minority leader, said it’s a “fair contract.”

All county contracts expired at the end of 2024.

Last July, the county also reached an agreement with the Correction Officers Association on a deal that raises base pay by 17.25% over five years. Negotiations remain ongoing with the Suffolk County Probation Officers Association and Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs Police Benevolent Association.

While the legislature is scheduled to hold a general meeting next week, Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) said the special meeting was done to avoid further delay on the contract.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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