Huntington Beach Police Stage Call for Pay Raise

HUNTINGTON BEACH —  More than 100 police officers, their relatives, friends and supporters told the City Council on Monday night that officers deserve a pay raise.

“You need to seriously consider paying for the finest Police Department in the nation--they deserve it,” said Barbara Huss, whose husband is an officer with the department.

Police in Huntington Beach have been working without an employment contract since September, 1993, when city and police negotiators failed to reach a salary agreement.

Although the issue was not on Monday’s council agenda, officers and their supporters brought it up during the public comment portion of the meeting. Contract negotiations are expected to resume within the next few weeks.

“Public safety is priority No. 1,” Mayor Victor Leipzig told the audience. “Our goal will be to negotiate a fair and equitable contract.”

However, he added, “these are bad economic times. Negotiations we face may not be easy.”

Ella Christensen, 81, called “Mother” by many of the officers to whom she served coffee and meals when she operated a coffee shop and tackle store on the city’s pier until 1988, told council members they should find a way to increase salaries.

The city “has money to spend on everything else,” Christensen said. “If we don’t have police officers, we won’t have any protection.”

Christensen, a 51-year resident of Huntington Beach, said the officers “stood by me all these years.”

Richard Wright, president of the Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Assn., said officers have not had a pay raise in almost three years.