Posted on: Friday, January 3, 2003

Police overtime budget shows need for raises

A rash of retirements from the Honolulu Police Department has once again underscored the need to upgrade pay scales within the department.

The large number of retirements is not directly related to pay issues. In some cases, officers retired to take other jobs or to lock in pension benefits.

And the higher-than-usual numbers also reflect the aging of a bumper crop of hires made more than two decades ago under former Mayor Frank Fasi.

In the short run, Police Chief Lee Donohue says he will make up for the staffing gaps by asking more officers to work overtime. He has little alternative.

But clearly, paying overtime to cover staff shortages is not the best solution. At some point, burnout will set in.

In addition, it is a poor use of resources. The money that will flow out in overtime would be far better used in beefing up regular pay.

The long-term solution for the Police Department is to get salary levels up to a point where it can recruit and keep all the officers it needs.