Irmo police getting raises

By TIM FLACH - tflach@thestate.com

Irmo is giving police officers pay raises to retain experience and better recruit new talent.

All will get raises of at least 4.5 percent — and some more than double that — starting July 1 under a plan approved by Town Council last week.

“Everybody will get something,” said Police Chief Brian Buck, whose $61,266 yearly salary is set separately by council members. “This helps a lot.”

The raises come after veteran officers left the force for higher pay, promotions and other perquisites.

Starting police pay will remain at $28,000. But the changes mean it can be increased up $7,000 for candidates with college training, military experience, fluency in languages and other skills.

Incentives will mean larger-than-average raises for other officers, such as doubling the bonus for officers living in town to $200 monthly.

Plans call for adding two officers to the 22-member force after Jan. 1.

The raises will add $56,000 to the cost of police operations. Running the force will total about half of the $4.3 million town spending plan set to begin July 1.

The incentives are necessary to maintain expertise and experience, Mayor John Gibbons said.

“We were in good shape already,” he said. “These are little adjustments.”

Reach Flach at (803) 771-8483.