City of Indio approves pay and benefits increase for Police Department

Indio Police are getting a pay raise as part of a new 3-year contract agreement with the city. The Tentative agreement was approved Thursday evening by the city council.

A staff report said the compensation package, negotiated by the Indio Police Officers' Association for the city's 88 full-time police department employees, is meant to attract and retain a high-caliber workforce.

The memorandum of understanding includes a 4-percent annual cost of living compensation adjustment for this calendar year, with an additional 3-percent raise next year, and up to 2-percent in the year 2026. 

The department accounts for roughly 30 percent of the city's authorized full-time workforce, according to a staff report.

There's also an increase in bilingual pay from $25 to $75 per pay period,  an additional $100 per month for medical, dental, and vision benefits, and an increase of officer court time pay from a minimum of 2 hours to 3 hours.

Detective on-call pay will rise by $28.57 to one hour of straight time per day.

The additional pay and benefits were projected to cost the city $366,825 this budget calendar year and $588,451 next year.

The contract also modifies labor terms, including removing performance evaluations from the Grievance Procedure.

Employee merit review dates may be extended if an employee is on an extended leave of absence, and off-duty Police Officers, Corporals, and Community Service Officers can use an assigned Police vehicle if required to attend court due to a subpoena if a vehicle is available and without incurring additional overtime pay.

Read more staff report details of the new agreement here.