Wilmington cops get top pay of city workers

Mayor Dennis Williams might be the most powerful official in Wilmington's government, but he doesn't bring home the biggest paycheck.

The 14 highest-paid city workers in 2013 were cops, including two who retired during the year and took other city jobs. Williams received $112,900, ranking 15th.

Those cops are making that kind of money because the city has been spending more on overtime for officers in recent years. The overtime has boosted total annual pay above $100,000 in recent years for dozens of captains, lieutenants, sergeants and corporals in the police force, according to city payroll records analyzed by The News Journal.

In 2013, other non-police officials who took home more than $100,000 included the mayor's then-chief of staff, John R. Matlusky ($108,800), City Solicitor Michael P. Migliore ($104,800), elected city Treasurer Henry W. Supinski ($110,600) and City Council Chief of Staff Romain L. Alexander ($101,900).

Fire Chief Anthony Goode was paid a $106,800 salary but earned less than Battalion Chief Dennis M. Kirlin, who received $110,600, including $18,600 in overtime and $3,100 in other pay.

DATA: Wilmington's highest-paid city employees

But the bulk of the big earners are in the city's police force, with 71 percent of the city's overtime paid to the department in 2013, records show. Overtime pay for police officers grew 16 percent to $2.9 million during Williams' first year in office, compared to 2012 when it was $2.5 million. Overtime for officers was growing before Williams took over, from $2 million to $2.5 million, or 25 percent, during Mayor James M. Baker's last year in office, records show.

City police and some City Council members cited Wilmington's rising street violence as a key reason cops are paid the most. Record shootings and murders the last few years means more investigations, especially after midnight, when detectives and supervisors are called in on overtime at 1.5 times their normal pay, plus a shift differential of 10 percent to 13 percent, officials said.

Overtime also is needed to fill patrol shifts because of vacations or vacancies and to provide police protection at city-sponsored events such as parades and music festivals, or at road projects, officials said.

Filling a need

Besides overtime, officers also received a total of $1.4 million in 2013 for what the city classified as "other" pay. Other pay includes shift differential for working nights, clothing allowance, holiday pay and payouts for unused compensatory time.

"Other" pay does not include private-duty jobs not paid by the city, such as providing security at private festivals or parties where police coverage is required.

Williams, a former city detective who by law draws the city's highest salary, would not comment for this story. His office and the police force would not discuss the duties of top-paid officers or say why they took home so much extra money from overtime and other pay.

Cpl. Mark Ivey, the city police spokesman, said overtime is a necessity to protect residents in a force that is now down 19 officers from its authorized strength of 320.

"Police officers have difficult, dangerous and demanding jobs that require long, often irregular, hours," said Ivey, who was paid $101,100 last year, including $33,800 in overtime and $2,700 in other pay. "Like other service careers, a police officer's job does not always conveniently end at the bell. Certain investigations and functions require officers to work extra hours."

Others, however, wonder whether city police are helping each other pad their paychecks with unnecessary overtime.

"Where are they making overtime? What are they doing?" asked Bryant Cottman, president of the city's blue-collar union, Local 320, which includes employees who fix water-main breaks and pick up trash. "Are they riding around in a patrol vehicle, sitting at a desk? Are they teaching some classes? Some are making a whole salary based on overtime."

Top paid cops

Of the 56 city employees paid more than $100,000 in 2013, 42 – or 75 percent – were cops. Among police, only the chief and two inspectors have a base salary above $100,000. The average base pay for officers last year was $68,200, records show.

The mayor's first police chief, Christine Dunning, ranked 27th – her $108,500 salary eclipsed by 22 of her officers, including her eventual successor, Bobby Cummings. The police chief does not receive overtime pay.

Some City Council members said they were surprised to learn the amount of money paid to some city cops. When asked if the payments should be audited, some agreed that the city auditor or outside auditors should scrutinize the compensation, especially for those who get the most extra pay in the cash-strapped city, where property taxes and utility rates went up 5 percent in July.

Councilman Bobby Williams, a former city police lieutenant who said he received his share of overtime pay, said an audit would help administrators, lawmakers and citizens understand how police are being deployed and taxpayer dollars spent.

"Are they taking on assignments that are community beneficial, or are they immediate safety needs?" Councilman Williams asked. "Are they holding a perimeter somewhere and can't let the bad guys out, or are they working at a park handing out balloons and lollipops?"

City police union President Harold B. Bozeman defended overtime paid to cover patrol shifts and city events, saying the process is fair and gives all cops, even higher-ranking administrators, the opportunity to sign up. Bozeman said cops can get so much overtime because the city needs the police coverage and many want or need the money.

Some overtime beyond the 40-hour work week is mandated when detectives and their supervisors are called to investigate a serious crime after hours, he said. For example, when a shooting occurs at 1 a.m., cops doing patrol work don't oversee the investigation, he said. Instead, the team of detectives scheduled to start at 9 a.m. is called to the scene, where they begin processing evidence and trying to interview witnesses, then must stay for their regular shift.

"Sometimes on a homicide, they [get] called in on a Saturday night and stay through the weekend," Bozeman said, noting the city limits officers to 16 hours in any 24-hour period.

"They give up their family time and their personal time," Bozeman said, adding that some cops need the money because they are divorced and have hefty child-support payments or want to beef up their savings accounts or buy a new car.

"It would be wrong for anyone to question them about how much overtime they get when they are filling a need and we are short-handed," he said. "The public would be more alarmed if we aren't filling the shifts and if you couldn't convince cops to give up their time off to protect the city."

Captain paid $155,700

The cost of protecting Wilmington from crime has been the city's biggest expense in the city budget, with the police department receiving slightly more than one-third of general fund spending.

For the fiscal year that began July 1, the police department's budget totaled $54.9 million, including $51.9 million from the city's $150 million general fund, or 35 percent of general fund spending. The city currently has 301 officers, but a new class of recruits is set to start in December, police said.

The police department's payroll grew nearly 4 percent from 2011 to 2013, to $29.6 million. During that same period, the payroll at most other city departments, including public works, parks and recreation and licenses and inspections, has fallen, although payroll in the mayor's office increased, records show.

Ivey said city police would not discuss officers' pay totals, and none could give interviews.

Capt. Faheem A. Akil, a 31-year veteran who received $155,700 last year, was the highest-paid city employee in 2013, including $61,000 from overtime pay. Akil also was paid the most in 2012 – $171,500 – with nearly half, $80,300, coming from overtime.

A request for city documents relating to Akil's 2013 overtime pay were referred to the city law department, which did not immediately respond to the inquiry.

The city's two inspectors and seven captains, the highest ranks below chief, are permitted by union contract to earn overtime for non-administrative work, but only with the chief's "prior authorization."

Contacted by phone, Akil, 54, said it was "nobody's business" what he gets paid, adding that he earned the money "legitimately. I feel it's a personal thing. I've done nothing that is a violation."

Councilman Williams said Akil, his former colleague, was known to work assignments that "ordinary patrolmen would fulfill." Williams said he and some other supervisors would not take those jobs but said he could not fault Akil for doing so.

Others in the Top 5

After Akil in 2013, the second highest-paid city official was Master Sgt. Adam Ringle, an 18-year veteran who took home $136,500, including $40,300 in overtime and $16,500 in other pay.

Third was now-retired Inspector Victor Ayala, a 33-year veteran, who was paid $130,200, including $15,200 in overtime and $9,900 in other pay. Fourth-highest was Senior Lt. Gregory J. Ciotti, who received $130,100, including $27,100 in overtime and $16,900 in other pay.

Ciotti, a 30-year veteran, recently filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city and Mayor Williams, claiming he was passed over for promotion to captain in January 2013 because of race, age and gender discrimination and his support of Williams' 2012 Democratic primary opponent, then-Councilman Kevin Kelley.

Fifth-highest was Cummings, then an inspector, at $127,200, including $22,200 in overtime and $500 in other pay.

Among other officers boosting their salaries with overtime were two cops on Mayor Williams' security detail – Master Cpl. Anthony L. Easterling and Senior Cpl. Scott C. Banks. Easterling was paid $103,100, with $27,100 from overtime and $3,400 from other pay. Banks received $78,000, including $7,600 from overtime and $5,900 from other pay.

Overtime audit sought

Roland Bell, the vice president of Local 320, said the need for so much police overtime might be inflated, pointing out that he sometimes sees two police cruisers stopped and facing opposite directions on the road along the Brandywine near Monkey Hill, with the officers chatting.

"Why are they sitting there?" Bell asked. "Aren't they supposed to be riding around protecting?"

Councilman Bud Freel, the Finance Committee chair, said overtime has long concerned him.

High overtime payments for police "raise a red flag for me," Freel said. "They might all have earned that overtime legitimately, but I have no idea sitting here. The auditing office could take a look at it. They have that ability."

An audit of how police decide when overtime is needed might help Cummings better deploy resources, Freel said. "Maybe they need more on the evening shifts, where the demand is," he said.

Councilman Williams agreed with Bozeman that much of the overtime "is completely unavoidable," but said he "absolutely" supported an audit.

Bozeman said that while he sees no reason for an audit, he doesn't object to one. "I don't think they would find anything improper," the union boss said.

Councilman Mike Brown Sr., who heads the Public Safety Committee, said he was surprised by the high overtime payments to police but doesn't suspect improprieties.

"I would doubt very seriously if it's padding someone's pocketbooks," Brown said. "It's too open for all to see."

Patrick Sweet and Melissa Burke contributed to this story. Contact senior reporter Cris Barrish at (302) 324-2785, cbarrish@delawareonline.com or on Facebook.

No. 1: Capt. Faheem A. Akil

Salary: $93,285

Overtime: $61,000

Other pay: $1,392

Total: $155,677

No. 2: Master Sgt. Adam Ringle

Salary: $79,710

Overtime: $40,266

Other pay: $16,487

Total: $136,463

No. 3: Now-retired Inspector Victor Ayala

Salary: $105,056

Overtime: $15,222

Other pay: $9,889

Total: $130,167

No. 4: Senior Lt. Gregory J. Ciotti

Salary: $86,063

Overtime: $27,097

Other pay: $16,945

Total: $130,105

No. 5: Police Chief Bobby Cummings (then Inspector)

Salary: $104,507

Overtime: $22,201

Other pay: $505

Total: $127,213