Pittsfield Personnel Board Supports Police Chief Salary Upgrade / iBerkshires.com

Nov 14, 2023

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is looking to bump up its police chief salary to ensure equity and attract potential candidates. On Tuesday, the Personnel Review Board supported a reclassification of the position from a Grade M11 salary that would pay between $115,214 and $149,778 in the fiscal 2024 to a Grade M12 salary that ranges between $133,500 and $173,550. "This request comes from some conversations we've been having internally to ensure not only external equity with this position but also internal equity," Human Resources Director Michael Taylor said. Late last year, Police Chief Michael Wynn announced that he would be retiring in July after nearly 30 years on the force. The FY23 approval for his salary was $143,503. Capt. Thomas C. Dawley II has been appointed as the interim chief to lead the Police Department through the transition. The city's job description of the police chief states:

Taylor explained that the request to add a grade level maintains the current pay structure while increasing the chief's pay. The city recently settled a contract with the police supervisor's union with a top-step base salary of $102,489 in FY24. The proposal aims to provide internal equity and to encourage police captains or current staff to pursue the chief position.