Suffolk superior officers union gets contract approved, with 18% pay bump over 5 years

Suffolk County’s high-ranking police officers are set to receive an 18% raise in base pay through 2029 under the terms of a new contract reached this week.

The Superior Officers Association, which represents sergeants, lieutenants, captains and other senior officers, reached an agreement with Suffolk County on a five-year contract that runs retroactively from Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2029.

Suffolk lawmakers on Tuesday approved the contract in a 16-1 vote. Outgoing Legis. Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) voted against the contract. The legislative approval came one day after SOA president James Gruenfelder and Jennifer McNamara, the county’s director of labor relations, signed a Memorandum of Agreement.

Gruenfelder said in an interview the contact was a "fair deal" and he felt the county took "our concerns into consideration."

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, a Republican, said in a statement the contract "reinforces our commitment to public safety while maintaining fiscal responsibility."

"This agreement supports the leadership of our police department, helps keep Suffolk County a safer county, and was negotiated in good faith," Romaine said. "This contract ensures fairness, consistency, and long-term financial stability for taxpayers while recognizing the critical role superior officers play in protecting our communities."

The ratification vote by the 485-member union ended Friday morning and Gruenfelder said he expects it to be approved.

The county is still negotiating contracts with the  Detectives Association, Probation Officers Association and Deputy Sheriffs Police Benevolent Association. The county first reached an agreement with the largest police union, the Police Benevolent Association, earlier this year and subsequently agreed on a new contract with the Correction Officers Association.

Gruenfelder said pattern bargaining after the PBA deal helped create the framework for his union. The annual raises in the SOA deal match the PBA contract. He said he did not have figures outlining the specific pay structure for each position. Newsday previously reported the base pay for the top rank of chief inspector would be $273,151 in 2024.

The Memorandum of Agreement, which outlines changes in the contract, says longevity pay increases by $25 each year to $650 starting retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. The figure rises each year up to $750 to Jan. 1, 2029, according to the agreement.

An additional annual longevity payment of $2,000 is provided to senior officers who complete 20 years. The longevity pay figures match what was agreed to in the PBA contract.

The agreement calls for a three-step salary scale for sergeants and Gruenfelder said it's a reduction from five steps.

Trotta told Newsday he disagreed with taxpayers having to pay union officials over $300,000 salaries and “they’re not doing police work.”

The legislature’s nonpartisan Budget Review Office received the SOA contract Tuesday and did not have time to prepare an analysis before the legislature’s vote. Lawmakers approved the resolution through a certificate of necessity, rather than the typical process through the Government Operations Committee, to have it adopted before the end of the year.

The agreement calls for the creation of three committees to explore "options for maternity/paternity leave," "mental health employee assistance" and "retention of disciplinary records."

Gruenfelder said the union agreed to some concessions such as allowing the county to civilianize up to four SOA positions during the contract term and technology provisions.

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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