At the end of each calendar year, City Hall releases the top 250 wage earners. The list of 250 top city hall wages earners is what is paid for the full calendar year of January 1, to December 31 of any given year. The City of Albuquerque recently updated the list for the year 2019. A full listing of the names and salaries can be found in the postscript to this blog article. It is followed by the link to the city web page listing the names in salaries starting with the most paid ( $193,666.40) to the least paid ( $107,885.47).
This blog article is a very deep dive review of the city’s “unclassified” and “classified positions” and the pay earned by the top 250 city hall employees. The list is broken down into position categories to better understand the significance of the pay differences. An emphasis is placed on the wages paid to the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) because of the lopsided number of APD personnel in the top 250 paid. The article highlights APD’s excessive overtime, the dangers, how it is affecting the Department of Justice Consent Decree and mandated reforms and what needs to be done about it.
CITY HALL DEPARTMENTS
The City of Albuquerque employs upwards of 6,000 full time city hall employees with 26 separate departments. The 26 Departments at Albuquerque City Hall are:
Animal Welfare
Aviation
City Clerk’s Office
City Council
Civilian Police Oversight
Cultural Services
Economic Development
Emergency Management
Environmental Health
Family and Community Services Department
Finance and Administration
Fire and Rescue
Human Resources Department
Inspector General
Internal Audit
Legal Department
Management and Budget Office
Mayor’s Office
Municipal Development Department
Parks’ and Recreation Department
Planning Department
Police Department
Senior Affairs Department
Solid Waste Department
Technology and Innovation Department
Transit Department
UNCLASSIFIED AND CLASSIFIED CITY HALL POSITIONS
Roughly 4,500 City Hall employees are considered “classified employees” who are covered by the city’s personnel rules and regulations. Classified employees have vested rights including retirement benefits, sick leave and annual leave benefits and can only be terminated for cause. Disciplinary actions such as suspensions, demotions and terminations can be appealed by classified employees to the City Personnel Board.
There are 223 full time “unclassified” positions at City Hall, who are “at-will” employees who can be terminated “without cause” and who work at the pleasure of the Mayor or the City Council. “Unclassified employees” or exempt employees do not have the same vested rights classified employees have. They have no appeal rights to the City Personnel Board for disciplinary action so when they are fired, they are in fact terminated with little or no recourse.
All City Hall Department Directors are “unclassified employees” and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and can be terminated without cause. City Department Directors as at will employees are paid yearly salaries but their salaries are broken down in hourly rates for payroll purposes. The 27 Department Directors are not paid time and a half when they work in excess of a 40-hour work week.
APD Commanders up to the Deputy Chiefs and the Chief Police are “at will” employees who serve at the pleasure of the Mayor or the Chief of Police. APD Lieutenants, Sergeants and Patrol officers are “classified employees” and are part of the police union and can be terminated only for cause. Albuquerque Fire and Rescue (AFR) Deputy Chiefs and the Fire Chief are “at will” employees. Further, all 311 call center employees are “at will” employees.
The City of Albuquerque pays an average of $17.61 an hour to City Hall employees or $36,628.80 a year depending on the positions held and required education level and training levels. (40-hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $17.61 paid hourly = $36,628.80) Roughly 4,500 City Hall employees are considered “classified employees” who are covered by the city’s personnel rules and regulations and can only be disciplines or terminated with cause.
At the end of each calendar year, City Hall releases the top 250 wage earners at city hall. The list of 250 top city hall wages earners is what is paid for the full calendar year of January 1, to December 31 of any given year. The City of Albuquerque has recently updated the list of the 250 top wage earners at City Hall. You can review the entire listing of all 25O wage earners for 2019 by going going to the web page link at the end of the postscript. See also:
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=City_of_Albuquerque/Hourly_Rate
https://www.cabq.gov/humanresources/city-employment-opportunities
ELECTED ALBUQUERQUE CITY OFFICIALS
The Mayor’s salary and the Albuquerque City Councilor salaries are determined by the Citizen’s Independent Salary Commission.
The Mayor is the only name that appears on the list of 250 top paid city hall employees. The Mayor is paid $125,000 a year.
Eight Albuquerque City Councilors are paid $30,000 annually and the City Council President is paid $32,000 annually.
There are 3 City Council staff that are in the top 250 paid city hall employees and they are:
Director of City Council Services Stephanie Yara: $151,467.48
City Council Services Policy Analyst Christopher Melendrez: $128,684.80
https://www.petedinelli.com/2019/02/04/100000-or-more-paid-to-all-250-top-abq-city-hall-employees/
TOP 20 PAID CITY HALL EMPLOYEES
Following are the names, titles and earned pay of the 20 top paid city hall employees for 2019:
1. Hernandez, Michael F, Police Sergeant 193,666.40
2. Johnson, Brian A, Senior Police Officer 1C, 188,884.04
3. Nair, Sarita Chief Administrative Officer 186,747.20
4. Geier, Michael Chief of Police 183,378.60
5. Rael, Lawrence Chief Operations Officer 181,953.60
6. Pholphiboun, Phetamphone B Police Sergeant 166,813.86
7. Drobik, Simon Master Police Officer 1C 166,484.67
8. Languit, Luke C Police Lieutenant 164,722.80
9. Ortiz, Christopher G Fire Para Battalion Chief – 40 HR 163,905.80
10 Rosenbaum, Nils Police Director of Behavioral Sciences 163,800.01
11. Lopez, Daniel J Police Sergeant 154,969.57
12. Yara, Stephanie M Director of Council Services 151,467.48
13. Pearson, Nicholas R Master Police Officer 1C149,157.79
14. Martinez, Dominic P Police Sergeant 149,152.48
15. Kim, Chad S Fire Battalion Chief – 56 HR 148,740.00
16. Dow, Paul Fire Chief – 40 HR 148,128.08
17. McCarson, Timothy W Senior Police Officer 1C 147,207.30
18. Do,Si N Fire Para Driver – 56 HR 145,018.19
19. Aguilar Jr,Esteban A City Attorney 144,386.41
20. Tapia,Jacob A Fire Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 144,292.81
NUTSHELL BREAKDOWN OF TOP 250 PAID CITY HALL EMPLOYEES
In 2018, the breakdown of the 250 top paid city hall employees revealed that all were paid between $100,000 to $192,937.23. In 2018, there were 140 Police Officers and 55 Fire and Rescue Officers for a total of 195 out of 250.
In 2019, the breakdown of the 250 top paid city hall employees showed they were paid between $107,885 to $193,666.23. There was an even bigger disproportionate number of APD officers and Firefighters in 2019 over 2018. In 2019 there were 160 sworn APD police officers and 49 AFRD personnel for a total of 209 public safety employees. The remaining 41 includes 24 Department Directors and 17 other unclassified and classified positions.
The lopsided numbers in APD can be attributed to overtime paid to the employees. The earning figures do not include take home vehicles, reimbursements, such as mileage and tuition, and vacation and sick leave accumulated amounts which are all taxable income once paid.
Following is a short summary of the 5 highest paid employees in each major category in the list of 250 with earned pay for 2019:
MAYOR’S OFFICE:
Top executives are the Mayor, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chief Operations Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Investment Officer. The Mayor’s salary is set by the Citizen’s Independent Salary Commission while the 4 other salaries are set by the Mayor. Following are the salaries paid all 5 in 2019:
1. Nair, Sarita Chief Admin Officer 186,747.20
2. Rael, Lawrence Chief Operations Officer 181,953.60
3. Bhakta, Sanjay Chief Financial Officer 143,008.80
4. Keller, Timothy M Mayor 125,008.00
5. Daniel, Christopher Chief Investment Officer 124,694.40
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND DEPUTIES:
There were 30 department directors and deputies in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $108,632 to $144,386. The normal starting salary for a Department Director is around $116,000. The highest 5 paid Department Directors for 2019 were:
1. Aguilar Jr, Esteban, City Attorney 144,386.41
2. Nevarez, Danny S, Animal Welfare Director 139,886.00
3. Osterloh, Brian A, Technology and Innovation Director 133,923.20
4. Harness, Edward W., Civilian Police Oversight Dept. Director 132,214.00
5. Simon, David J, Parks and Recreation Director 129,156.00
APD CHIEF’S OFFICE:
In the APD Chief’s Office, there were 10 major employees in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $109,017 to $183,378. The highest 5 paid employees in the Chief’s Office for 2019 were:
1. Geier, Michael Chief of Police 183,378.60
2. Gonzalez, Arturo E Deputy Chief 140,498.63
3. Garcia, Eric J Deputy Chief 140,144.28
4. Medina, Harold Deputy Chief 136,040.20
5. Griego, Jon J Deputy Chief 134,522.59
APD COMMANDERS:
There were 16 APD Commanders in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $108,181 to $129,230. The 5 highest paid APD Commanders for 2019 were:
1. Rivera, Donovan J Commander 129,230.57
2. Espinosa, Timothy R Commander 125,755.19
3. Garcia, Mizel Commander 124,594.94
4. Lowe, Cori M Commander 124,053.18
5. George, Christopher N Commander 123,592.45
APD LIEUTENANTS:
There were 32 APD Lieutenants in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $108,031 to $164,722. Hourly pay rate for APD Lieutenants is $40.00 an hour or $83,200 yearly. The 5 highest paid APD Lieutenants for 2019 were:
1. Languit, Luke C Lieutenant 164,722.80
2. Patterson, Christopher Lieutenant 138,606.30
3. Jones, Aaron M. PD-Police Lieutenant 136,824.53
4. Bell Garcia, Jennifer L Lieutenant 134,492.33
5. Bassett, Jeremy D Lieutenant 132,599.17
APD Sergeants:
There were 32 APD Sergeants in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $109,292 to $193,666. Hourly pay rate for APD Sergeants is $35 an hour, or $72,800 a year. The 5 highest paid Sergeants in 2019 were:
1. Hernandez, Michael F Police Sergeant 193,666.40
2. Pholphiboun, Phetamphone B Police Sergeant 166,813.86
3. Lopez, Daniel J Sergeant 154,969.57
4. Martinez, Dominic P Sergeant 149,152.48
5. Hunt, Justin R Sergeant 140,961.94
APD Patrol Officers:
There were 70 APD patrol officers in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $108,167 to $188,844. Hourly pay rate for Patrol Officers is $29.00 an hour to $31.50 an hour depending upon years of experience. The 5 highest paid Patrol Officers in 2019 were:
1. Johnson, Brian, Senior Police Officer 1C 188,884.04
2. Drobik, Simon Master Police Officer 1C 166,484.67
3. Pearson, Nicholas R Master Police Officer 1C 149,157.79
4. McCarson, Timothy W Senior Police Officer 1C 147,207.30
5. Hollier, Jeremy B Senior Police Officer 1C 143,229.86
ALBQ FIRE AND RESCUE (AFRD) CHIEF’S OFFICE:
There were 7 employees in the Alb Fire and Rescue Chief’s office in list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $126,474 to $148,128 for the year 2019 as follows:
1. Dow, Paul Fire Chief – 40 HR 148,128.08
2. Mowery, David E Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 130,892.98
3. Frazier, Sean R Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 128,686.88
4. Elks, Sean T Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 126,476.88
5. Eakes, Adam C Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 128,605.41
6. Gallegos, Gene Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 129,630.71
7. Jaramillo, Emily V Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 126,476.88
ALBQ FIRE AND RESCUE BATTALION CHIEFS:
There were 16 AFRD Battalion Chiefs in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $110,354 to $163,905. The 5 highest paid Battalion Chiefs in 2019 were:
1. Ortiz, Christopher G Para Battalion Chief – 40 HR 163,905.80
2. Kim, Chad S Battalion Chief – 56 HR 148,740.00
3. Garcia, Santos C Battalion Chief – 56 HR 142,815.18
4. Montero, Alex O Battalion Chief – 56 HR 136,988.32
5. Staley, Justin L Battalion Chief – 40 HR 130,331.41
ALBQ FIRE AND RESCUE PARAMEDIC LIEUTENANTS:
There were 18 AFRD Fire and Rescue Paramedic Lieutenants in the list of 250 top paid employees in 2019 earning pay ranging from $107,885 to $145,018.19. The 5 highest paid Paramedic Lieutenants in 2019 were:
Do, Si N Para Driver – 56 HR 145,018.19
Tapia, Jacob A Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 144,292.81
Longdon, Jonathan D Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 134,491.63
Ruiz, Thomas A Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 129,185.83
Woodard, Timothy C Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 126,448.18
ALBUQUERQUE FIRE AND RESCUE CAPTAINS:
There were 7 AFRD Fire and Rescue Captains are among the top 250 paid city hall employees in 2019 and they are:
Anderson, Clinton L Para Captain – 56 HR 128,929.92
Salazar, Martin D Para Captain – 40 HR 120,632.70
Deal, Craig J Captain – 40 HR 118,496.41
Laprise, Robert Para Captain – 56 HR 115,192.99
Rantanen, Lloyd T Captain – 56 HR 113,063.71
Weaver, David Captain – 56 HR 111,635.48
Castillo, David V Captain – 56 HR 108,588.98
A full listing of all names and salaries earned by the top 250 city hall employees in 2019 are in the below postscript to this article.
APD HOURLY WAGE PAY RATES
As of April 27, 2020, the average hourly wage for a Police Officer in the United States is $27.00 an hour. The range typically falls between $25 and $30. Hourly rates can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years spent as a police officer.
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/police-officer-hourly-wages
The 160 top wage city hall wage earners employed by the Albuquerque Police Department include patrol officers first class, sergeants, lieutenants, commanders the deputy chiefs, and the chief with annual pay ranging from $101,000 a year up to $192,937 a year. Far more Police Officers 1st Class are earning 6 figures under the Keller Administration than under the last year of the Berry Administration. For a comparison of salaries paid by Mayor Tim Keller and his predecessor Mayor Richard Berry see the following blog articles:
https://www.petedinelli.com/2019/02/04/100000-or-more-paid-to-all-250-top-abq-city-hall-employees/
Starting pay for an APD Police Officer immediately out of the APD academy is $29 an hour or $60,320 yearly. (40 hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $29 paid hourly = $60,320.)
Police officers with 4 to 14 years of experience are paid $30 an hour or $62,400 yearly. (40-hour work weeks in a year X 52 weeks in a year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $30 paid hourly = $62,400.)
Senior Police Officers with 15 years or more experience are paid $31.50 an hour or $65,520 yearly. (40 hours work in a week X 52 weeks in year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $31.50 = $65,520.)
The hourly pay rate for APD Sergeants is $35 an hour, or $72,800. (40-hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2080 hours worked in a year X $35.0 paid hourly = $72,800.)
The hourly pay rate for APD Lieutenants is $40.00 an hour or $83,200. (40 hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2080 hours worked in a year X $40.00 = $83,200.)
LONGEVITY PAY ADDED TO BASE PAY
In addition to the base pay rates, APD police officers are also paid longevity bonus pay added to their pay at the end of the year as follows:
For 5 years of experience: $100 are paid bi-weekly, or $2,600 yearly
For 6 years of experience: $125 are paid bi-weekly, or $3,250 yearly
For 7 to 9 years of experience: $225 are paid bi-weekly, or $5,800 yearly
For 10 to 12 years of experience: $300 are paid bi-weekly, or $7,800 yearly
For 13 to 15 years o experience: $350 are paid bi-weekly, or $9,100 yearly
For 16 to 17 years or more: $450 are paid bi-weekly, or $11,700 yearly
For 18 or more years of experience: $600 are paid bi-weekly, 15,600 yearly
NO WORD ON NEW OVERTIME POLICY ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY
The 6-figure compensation being paid to sworn police can be attributed in mainly to “overtime” paid. There are nearly a dozen different types of overtime programs within the APD. The categories where APD Officers can earn overtime include holiday work, tac-plan initiatives, training, call outs, calls for service, special events, administrative work, investigations, and court appearances. DWI check points and special events like the Balloon Fiesta and security detail for high profile dignitary visits are all events that require an extensive amount of overtime. The police union contract entitles a police officer to be paid “time and a half” when overtime is worked on any given day or week.
On January 24, 2019, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) said it was placing a “cap” on how much overtime police officers can work in a week. According to Deputy Chief Smathers, the overtime policy would rearrange training and special event schedules to be more efficient. APD’s goal is to have the overtime policy implemented by the end of August. The Mayor’s office and the City’s Chief Administrative Officer must approve the plan. Once approved, it was to be implemented with a special order issued by APD Chief Geier. The new overtime policy must also be reviewed by the Independent Federal Court Monitor appointed by the Federal Court to oversee the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA).
Deputy Chief Smathers said the new overtime policy would not focus on overtime accrued during calls for service or court hearings, saying they are very unpredictable. The overtime policy instead looks at the time officers spend doing administrative work, training and community and special events. The goal is to eliminate training overtime through better scheduling and shift adjustments. According to Smathers, APD is developing a data program that supervisors can review to see which officers are working the most overtime.
To date, the Keller Administration and Chief Geier have not announced any final reform of overtime policy or if it has ever been approved by the Court appointed Federal Monitor.
WHERE IS OVERTIME REFORM WHEN IT COMES TO APD’S SPOKESMAN?
On May 22, the on line news service ABQ Reports published an article that APD Sergeant and Public Information Officer Simon Drobik continues racking up massive and record setting amounts of overtime pay. For the first 4 months of this year, Drobik, whose base pay is $31.50 an hour ($63,630 yearly) has made $82,371, according to the city’s website. If he continues on this pace, Drobik will be paid $247,113 for the year. That will shatter the record of $192,973 that Drobik made in 2018, the year that Drobick’s excessive overtime was first reported on by ABQ Reports. It appears that Chief Geier and Mayor Keller never sent Drobik the memo on APD police overtime reform or they both continue to do what they damn well feel like doing when it comes to paying what they want to pay to the chosen few.
DOJ COURT APPROVED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND REFORMS STYMIED
The Albuquerque Police Department for over 5 years has been under a federal court consent decree after the Department of Justice Investigation found a pattern of excessive use of force and deadly force. Since entering into the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA), APD has been struggling to implement the reforms mandated under the CASA.
It was on September 10, 2018, during a federal court hearing, that Federal Monitor Dr. James Ginger told the federal judge that a group of “high-ranking APD officers” within the department were trying to thwart reform efforts. The Federal Monitor revealed that the group of “high-ranking APD officers” were APD sergeants and lieutenants. Because sergeants and lieutenants are part of the police union they remained in their positions and could not be removed by the Chief. Federal Monitor Ginger referred to the group as the “counter-CASA effect.” Ginger described the group’s attitude as “certainly ambivalent” to the reform effort and the CASA.
The entire 53-page transcript of the conference call can be read here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GzUumHhiD3Mw2_dLg_czXml_T6-3QI2w/view
On May 4, 2020, Federal Court Appointed Monitor James Ginger, in his 11th Monitors Report stated that the “counter casa effect” has been and continues to be the biggest sticking point for APD and presenting the biggest obstacle for the department to complete the reforms under the consent decree. Only until a 95% compliance rate has been achieved in 3 major categories can the consent decree be dismissed.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Police officers earning excessive overtime is nothing new. It has been going on for years and is very common knowledge. During the last 9 years, the Albuquerque Police Department has consistently gone over its overtime budget by millions. In fiscal year 2016, APD was funded for $9 million for over time but APD actually spent $13 million. A March, 2017 city internal audit of APD’s overtime spending found police officers taking advantage of a system that allows them to accumulate excessive overtime at the expense of other city departments. A city internal audit report released in March, 2017 revealed that the Albuquerque Police Department spent over $3.9 million over its $9 million “overtime” budget.
https://www.petedinelli.com/2018/03/30/apd-overtime-pay-abuse-and-recruitment-tool/
On April 13, 2020, the Albuquerque City Council enacted R-20-31 which is the city’s operating budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 that goes into effect on July 1, 2020 and ends June 31, 2021 for all city hall departments. The 2020-2021 APD operating budget is $207,877,000 and it has a mere $2,225,000 allocated for overtime.
THE DANGERS OF POLICE OVERTIME
APD has an alarming increase in “classified” positions that are being paid 6 figure pay based on hourly wages. The increase pay requires you to assume that all are doing a good, great or an exceptional job which is very difficult to justify when it turns out that is not the case or abuse is found. The 6 figure salaries being paid to sworn Patrol Officers can be attributed to “overtime” worked which is very problematic.
From a personnel management standpoint, when you have a select few that are taking home the lion’s share of overtime, it causes moral problems with the rest. Consecutive shifts or excessive overtime for any police officer can lead to extreme fatigue, emotional burnout and reduce an officer’s alertness and response times and reflexes that can endanger lives and public safety.
Excessive overtime paid is a red flag for abuse of the system, mismanagement of police resources or the lack of personnel. APD has added approximately 100 police officers last year as a result of increases in pay and an aggressive recruitment program. APD is projected to have upwards of 980 sworn police by July 1, 2020. The ultimate goal of the Keller Administration is to have 1,200 full time sworn police.
Overtime paid by APD should have come down as more police officers were added to the ranks, but that did not happen. When APD exceeds its overtime budget, it is to the detriment of other city departments and other city employees in that the additional funding must be found somewhere else, either by taking it from other departments and programs, budget cuts or cost saving measurements.
For the last 3 years, APD has exceeded its overtime budget by as much as $4 million or more. In 2019, APD spent $11.5 million paying sworn police overtime when the budget was $9 million. The 2020-2021 budget which begins on July 1, 2020 provides a mere $2,225,000 to pay for police overtime.
IMPLEMENT OVERTIME PROTOCOL TO ELIMINATE TIME AND A HALF PAY
APD needs to establish, and not just promise as it did in January, an overtime protocol that is fair and equitable for all sworn personnel that ensures that overtime is paid to more sworn police officers in the department. A system of overtime bonuses, with a cap, to be paid at the end of the year for accumulated increments of overtime can and should be implemented. Shift time to work would remain the same, but if more time is needed to complete work load, the employee works it for the same salary with no overtime and a modification of shift times for court appearances.
APD Patrol Officers First Class who handle DWI during nighttime shifts should be required to change their shift times to daytime shifts when the arraignments and trials occur to prevent overtime pay. As an alternative to DWI arraignment, the City Attorney’s Office should explore the possibility of expanding or modifying the Metro Traffic Arraignment Program with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office assisting to include not just traffic citations but DWI arraignments to eliminate the need for APD officers to appear at such arraignments.
REMOVE MANAGEMENT FROM APD UNION
There is a definite “chain of command” when it comes to APD. All Commanders, Deputy Chiefs and the Chief are “at will” positions that serve at the pleasure of the Administration, either the Mayor or Chief. APD has a clear line of authority that separates management from rank and file sworn police officers. A major problem is that APD sergeants and lieutenants, even though they are part of management with supervisory authority over sworn police officers, they are not “at will” employees and they are allowed to join the police union. Including sergeants and lieutenants in the union bargaining unit creates a clear conflict within management and sends mixed messages to rank and file sworn police officers.
APD police sergeants and lieutenants are on the front line to enforce personnel rules and regulations, standard operating procedures, approve and review work performed. They are critical in assisting in implementing the Department of Justice (DOJ) reforms mandated by the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) and standard operating procedures policies.
Police sergeants and lieutenants are the point personnel for “operational compliance” under the court settlement and after 5 full years of the settlement agreement they still are not getting the job done when it comes to “operational compliance.” This point was repeatedly made by the Federal Monitor when he said “until the sergeants are in harness and pulling in the same direction as the chief, things won’t get done as quickly”. In other words, without the 100% support of the sergeants and lieutenants to the CASA and mandated reforms, there will be little or no progress made with “operational compliance” and reaching a 95% compliance rate will take years. For a related blog article see:
Sergeants and lieutenants need to be made at will employees and removed from the union bargaining unit and paid determined salaries with no overtime and no longevity pay, in order to get a real buy in to management’s goals of police reform and the federal Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA). APD Police sergeants and lieutenants cannot serve two masters of Administration Management and Union priorities that are in conflict when it comes to the CASA reforms. The city should demand that the management positions of APD sergeant and lieutenant be removed from the APOA Union bargaining unit and be prevented from being paid time and a half for overtime.
RESTRUCTURE 40 HOUR APD PAY SYSTEM TO SALARY PAY SYSTEM
As another alternative to paying overtime and longevity bonuses , the City should do away with APD hourly wage and time and a half for overtime for sworn police and implement a salary structure based strictly on steps and years of service. A complete restructuring of the existing APD 40-hour work week and hourly wage system needs to be implemented.
A base pay salary system should be implemented for all APD sworn personnel. A base salary system with step increases for length of service should be implemented. The longevity bonus pay would be eliminated and built into the salary structure. Mandatory shift time to work would remain the same, but if more time is needed to complete a work load or assignments for the day, the salaried employee works it for the same salary with no overtime paid and a modification of shift times for court appearances.
APD Patrol Officers First Class who handle DWI during nighttime shifts should be required to change their shift times to daytime shifts when the arraignments and trials occur to prevent overtime pay. As an alternative to DWI arraignment, the City Attorney’s Office should explore the possibility of expanding or modifying the Metro Traffic Arraignment Program with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office assisting to include not just traffic citations but DWI arraignments to eliminate the need for APD officers to appear at such arraignments.
CONCLUSION
Until the APD salary structure is changed, APD will always have patrol officers first class making two to four times their base salary and emotional burnout will be the norm, not the exception endangering public safety. The trend of having more classified APD employees earning such high hourly wage pay does not bode well from an executive personnel management standpoint.
Management is not able to remove personnel without cause nor make management and policy decisions that may be strenuously resisted by classified management personnel of Sergeants and Lieutenants who are more interested in being disruptive to getting anything done and resisting the DOJ reforms.
Management must be able to make policy and personnel decisions and be able to immediately remove and even replace upper management employees who are not performing their jobs or who engage in unethical, questionable, disruptive and at times illegal conduct in violation of personnel rules and regulations.
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POSTSCRIPT
Following is a category breakdown listing of the top 250 wages paid by name, title and earnings for 2019:
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR (TOTAL: 5)
Nair, Sarita CA-Chief Administrative Office Chief Admin Officer 186,747.20
Rael, Lawrence D CA-Chief Administrative Office Chief Operations Officer 181,953.60
Bhakta, Sanjay FA-Finance Admin Svc Chief Financial Officer 143,008.80
Keller, Timothy M MA-Mayor’s Office Department Mayor 125,008.00
Daniel, Christopher H FA-Finance Admin Svc Chief Investment Officer 124,694.40
CITY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, DEPUTIES AND ASSISTANTS (TOTAL: 30)
Department Directors are unclassified,starting salaries are approximately $116,000 and they are not paid bonuses and not paid overtime at time and a half and usually work in excess of a 40-hour work week.
Aguilar Jr, Esteban A LG-Legal City Attorney 144,386.41
Nevarez, Danny S AW-Animal Welfare Director 139,886.00
Osterloh, Brian A TI-Technology and Innovation Director 133,923.20
Harness, Edward W. CP-Civilian Police OS Dept CPOA Director 132,214.00
Simon, David J PR-Parks and Recreation Director 129,156.00
Leech, Mark T Technology and Innovation Deputy Director/DTI 128,884.60
Griffin, Stephanie M LG-Legal Asst City Attorney 124,723.62
Di Menna, Mark A EH-Environmental Health Deputy Director/EHSE 124,694.40
Montoya, Charles P MD-Municipal Development Director 124,088.00
Pierce, Carol M FC-Family Community Svcs Director 124,088.00
Chapman, Paul Ray TI-Technology and Innovation Assoc Chief Info Officer 123,073.60
Martinez, Jennifer Renee FA-Finance Admin Svc Director 122,414.40
Scott, Mary L HR-Human Resources Director 119,344.86
Van Etten de Sanchez, Mary CS-Cultural Services Director 119,020.00
Fleming, Baird E Cultural Services Bio Park Administrator 118,771.23
Fanelli, Pamela S FA-Finance Admin Svc City Controller 118,771.22
Allen, Nyika AV-Aviation Director 117,648.01
Jaramillo, Synthia R ED-Economic Development Director 117,648.00
Sanchez, Anna M SA-Senior Affairs Director 117,648.00
Whelan, Matthew SW-Solid Waste Director 117,648.00
Duhigg, Katy M CC-Office of the City Clerk City Clerk 116,122.80
Hults, Samantha M LG-Legal Deputy City Attorney 114,028.80
Mitchell, Kenneth D Parks and Recreation Deputy Director-Parks & Rec 113,940.40
Williams, Brennon N PL-Planning Department Director 113,180.80
Lozoya, Melissa R. Municipal Development Assoc Director 113,169.64
Reed, Keith A Municipal Development Engineering Project Manager 113,169.62
Smith, Dean P CS-Cultural Services Assoc Director Library 113,211.20
Sourisseau, Kevin J Municipal Development, Deputy Director 112,041.60
Thompson, James Internal Audit City Auditor 111,195.20
Truong, Loc T, Human Resources Deputy Director/HR 108,632.24
CITY SUPPORT – EARLY RETIReMENT (TOTAL: 6)
EDITORS NOTE: Early retirement is where a retiring city employee exhausts all accumulated annual and sick leave first and continues on city payroll and thereafter their PERA Pension begins. The following 6 retiring employees were listed in the top 250 city hall wage earners for 2019:
Wesley, Zachary L City Support Early Ret PD DC II/Comm FT 120,655.22
Mc Cumber, Wayne City Support Early Ret Police FT 119,143.43
Venghaus, Chris City Support Early Ret Fire 56 EX 119,049.06
Olvera, Donovan City Support Early Ret PD DC II/Comm FT 116,169.40
Hinde, James D City Support Early Ret UNCL Exempt FT 109,792.43
Barela, Adam J City Support Early Ret Police FT 108,431.34
ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL (TOTAL: 2)
Yara, Stephanie M Council Services Director 151,467.48
Melendrez, Christopher P. Assoc Dir / Sr Legal Advisor 128,684.80
LISTING OF APD POSITIONS
APD CHIEF COMMAND STAFF EARNINGS (TOTAL: 10)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: These positions are at will employee and not permitted to be part of the police union)
Geier, Michael Chief Of Police 183,378.60
Gonzalez, Arturo E Deputy Chief 140,498.63
Garcia, Eric J Deputy Chief 140,144.28
Medina, Harold Deputy Chief 136,040.20
Griego, Jon J Deputy Chief 134,522.59
Ross, John APD Chief of Staff 129,304.68
Armijo, Elizabeth APD Deputy Chief of Staff 117,076.80
Martinez, Damon Paul APD Chief Policy Advisor 118,641.04
Rosenbaum, Nils Police Director of Behavioral Sciences 163,800.01
Wilson, Erika L. Police Emergency Comm Manager 109,017.60
TOP PAID POLICE OFFICERS BY RANK AND EARNINGS
APD COMMANDERS (TOTAL: 16)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: These positions are at will employee and not permitted to be part of the police union)
Rivera, Donovan J Commander 129,230.57
Espinosa, Timothy R Commander 125,755.19
Garcia, Mizel Commander 124,594.94
Lowe, Cori M Commander 124,053.18
George, Christopher N Commander 123,592.45
Deal, Craig J Captain 118,496.41
Middleton, Robert L Commander 120,846.52
Collins, James Commander 116,133.48
Sanchez Jr, Arturo Commander 118,092.02
Velarde, Mark A Police Deputy Commander 117,888.41
Burke, Joseph M Police Commander 117,805.60
Duran, Paul Commander 117,043.48
Yara, Johnny B Commander 116,808.53
Szych, Paul R Commander 113,144.80
Byrd Stevenson, Angela R Commander 113,069.80
Denison, Brett Deputy Commander 108,181.20
APD LIETENANTS (TOTAL: 32)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: These positions are classified employee and are permitted to be part of the police union.)
Languit, Luke C Lieutenant 164,722.80
Patterson, Christopher Lieutenant 138,606.30
Jones, Aaron M. PD-Police Lieutenant 136,824.53
Bell Garcia, Jennifer L Lieutenant 134,492.33
Bassett, Jeremy D Lieutenant 132,599.17
Anaya, Adam Lieutenant 130,357.92
Frick, Sean M Lieutenant 128,819.03
McElroy, Matthew Lieutenant 128,802.41
Altman, Steve A Lieutenant 128,026.22
Price, Bryan H Lieutenant 127,649.99
Johnston, Kenneth L Lieutenant 127,131.74
Woodard, Timothy C Para Lieutenant 126,448.18
Barraza, Rene Lieutenant 125,395.24
Puariea, Karla P Para Lieutenant 125,148.94
Norris, Scott T Lieutenant 125,108.42
Napoleone, Kevin J Lieutenant 124,720.27
Parsons, Scott W Lieutenant 122,828.34
Saladin, David R Lieutenant 122,580.22
Tafoya, Dennis Lieutenant 122,480.98
Esquibel, Timothy Lieutenant 121,050
Barker, Cecily A Lieutenant 119,355.26
Deyapp, Lena T Lieutenant 115,430.07
Brown, Joshua M Lieutenant 119,782.52
Brodbeck, Michael K Lieutenant 115,436.50
Martinez, Melvin J Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 115,208.12
Cottrell, Zakary F Lieutenant 114,736.04
Wallace, Sean P Lieutenant 113,973.16
Chacon, Jennifer M Lieutenant 110,584.76
Tapia, Amanda C Lieutenant 109,649.60
Bowie, Terysa Lieutenant 108,528.26
Baca, David R Lieutenant 108,165.90
Weber, Gregory E Lieutenant 108,031.08
APD SERGEANTS (TOTAL: 32)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: These positions are classified employee and are permitted to be part of the police union.)
Hernandez, Michael F Police Sergeant 193,666.40
Pholphiboun, Phetamphone B Police Sergeant 166,813.86
Lopez, Daniel J Sergeant 154,969.57
Martinez, Dominic P Sergeant 149,152.48
Hunt, Justin R Sergeant 140,961.94
Economidy III, Byron G Sergeant 138,305.75
Stockton, Robert M Sergeant 134,315.52
Kenny, Sean P Sergeant 126,987.12
Cancilla, Zachary A Sergeant 126,163.99
Anderson, Hollie L Sergeant 125,887.78
Schmidt, Matthew J Sergeant 123,878.97
Pitzer, Brian D Sergeant 123,666.89
Brown, Eric Sergeant 118,229.24
Knipprath, Brock M. Sergeant 120,086.01
Chavez, Matthew M Sergeant 119,850.43
Chavez, Dennis Sergeant 122,182.17
Nelson, Ryan H Sergeant 118,249.02
Paige, Brian AV-Aviation Sergeant 115,896.04
Sandoval, Albert Sergeant 114,699.80
Wild, Amanda Sergeant 114,376.03
Richards, Joshua R. Sergeant 114,061.11
Sedler, Amy J Sergeant 113,008.40
Haugh, Paul Sergeant 113,517.31
Hernandez, Armando F. Sergeant 112,835.56
Armijo, Louis J Sergeant 112,287.92
Monte, Lawrence E Sergeant 111,833.05
Rojas, Ernesto AV-Aviation Sergeant 111,453.67
Ingram, Richard S Sergeant 110,663.50
Martin, Paul A. Sergeant 110,472.28
Gomez, Gustavo A. Sergeant 110,138.01
Barnard, Jeffery R. Sergeant 109,459.56
Ortiz, James Sergeant 109,292.95
POLICE OFFICERS FIRST CLASS, MASTER, SENIOR (TOTAL: 70)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: These positions are classified employee and are permitted to be part of the police union)
Johnson, Brian, Senior Police Officer 1C 188,884.04
Drobik, Simon Master Police Officer 1C 166,484.67
Pearson, Nicholas R Master Police Officer 1C 149,157.79
McCarson, Timothy W Senior Police Officer 1C 147,207.30
Hollier, Jeremy B Senior Police Officer 1C 143,229.86
Martinez, Yvonne Master Police Officer 1C 140,522.20
Lehocky, Andrew J Master Police Officer 1C 140,107.90
Garza, Ramiro J Senior Police Officer 1C 136,815.26
Solis, Brenda M Senior Police Officer 1C 136,522.25
Canales, Ladio Senior Police Officer 1C 135,591.41
Rico, Michael K Senior Police Officer 1C 133,020.75
Hernandez, Francisco F Senior Police Officer 1C 132,288.88
Hernandez Jr, Jimmy S Senior Police Officer 1C 132,093.96
Burchell, Edward Master Police Officer 1C 131,582.84
Carter, Jessie W. Senior Police Officer 1C 131,530.98
Swessel, Robert A Master Police Officer 1C 131,402.46
Shook, Michael B. Senior Police Officer 1C 130,875.25
O’Neil, Craig P Master Police Officer 1C 129,424.58
Champine, Daniel J Master Police Officer 1C 128,915.79
Montano, Joshua Senior Police Officer 1C 124,635.53
Brown, Jason Senior Police Officer 1C 124,396.46
Solis, Emmanuel Senior Police Officer 1C 124,356.64
Burley, John V. Senior Police Officer 1C 123,201.06
Kaskalla, Duran G, Senior Police Officer 1C 122,293.95
Breeden, Charles F Senior Police Officer 1C 121,813.68
Maes, Kelly R Senior Police Officer 1C 121,460.96
Rogillio, Justin L Senior Police Officer 1C 120,907.69
Hooee, Alonzo Senior Police Officer 1C 120,848.24
Frazier, Jared L Senior Police Officer 1C 119,790.19
Lujan, Damian M Senior Police Officer 1C 119,752.79
Fox, James Master Police Officer 1C 119,648.21
Novicki, Thomas D Master Police Officer 1C 119,512.95
Franklin, Daniel J Master Police Officer 1C 119,445.19
Barela, Victor D Senior Police Officer 1C 119,403.34
Ruiz, Luis A Police Officer 1C 119,180.60
Miller, Charles W Senior Police Officer 1C 118,863.48
Jojola, Eric J AV-Aviation Senior Police Officer 1C 117,527.64
Luna, Michael A Master Police Officer 1C 116,607.28
Torgrimson, Daniel A Master Police Officer 1C 116,593.63
Juarez, Terra K Master Police Officer 1C 116,369.80
St. John, Phoy R Senior Police Officer 1C 116,158.36
Romero, Arnold C Aviation Master Police Officer 1C 116,001.11
Walsh, Stephen T Master Police Officer 1C 115,270.93
Yurcisin, Daniel E Senior Police Officer 1C 115,181.80
Martinez, Herman G Master Police Officer 1C /115,084.94
Armijo, Leonard R Police Officer 1C 114,088.46
Hotle, Timothy Senior Police Officer 1C 113,678.72
Ortiz, Nelson S Police Officer 1C 113,571.44
Meyer, Jesse M PD-Police Master Police Officer 1C 113,439.19
Oates, Michael A Senior Police Officer 1C 113,406.92
Martinez, Marisa J Senior Police Officer 1C 113,114.85
Zambrano, Anthony Master Police Officer 1C 113,009.31
Correia, Donald R Senior Police Officer 1C 112,990.10
Duran, Fred O Senior Police Officer 1C 112,826.26
Higgins, Kiel V Master Police Officer 1C 111,618.07
Williamson, James L Master Police Officer 1C 111,365.45
Groff, Matthew S Senior Police Officer 1C 111,291.87
La, Quan T Police Officer 1C 111,180.38
Rahimi, Alexander A Police Officer 1C 110,548.33
Porlas, Dwight Master Police Officer 1C 110,014.59
Abbatantuono, Guy D Senior Police Officer 1C 109,757.33
Avila, Michael A Senior Police Officer 1C 109,703.46
Perez, Lucas F Police Officer 1C 109,560.26
Lovato, Angelo J Senior Police Officer 1C 109,506.05
Redhouse, Leighton Senior Police Officer 1C 109,438.25
Gomez, Geno Virgil E Master Police Officer 1C 109,314.87
Montano, David B Senior Police Officer 1C 108,943.69
Roach, Gerald L Master Police Officer 1C 108,225.72
Wolffbrandt, Timothy E Senior Police Officer 1C 108,176.61
Herbst, Zachary C Police Officer 1C 108,167.35
ALBQUERQUE FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT
FIRE CHIEF’S OFFICE (TOTAL 7)
Dow, Paul Fire Chief – 40 HR 148,128.08
Mowery, David E Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 130,892.98
Frazier, Sean R Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 128,686.88
Elks, Sean T Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 126,476.88
Eakes, Adam C Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 128,605.41
Gallegos, Gene Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 129,630.71
Jaramillo, Emily V Deputy Fire Chief – 40 HR 126,476.88
ALBUQUERQUE FIRE AND RESCUE BATTALION CHIEFS (TOTAL 15)
Ortiz, Christopher G Para Battalion Chief – 40 HR 163,905.80
Kim, Chad S Battalion Chief – 56 HR 148,740.00
Garcia, Santos C Battalion Chief – 56 HR 142,815.18
Montero, Alex O Battalion Chief – 56 HR 136,988.32
Staley, Justin L Battalion Chief – 40 HR 130,331.41
Garcia, Jason A Battalion Chief – 56 HR 127,110.07
O’brien, Kevin P Battalion Chief – 56 HR 125,517.55
Lujan, Robert W Battalion Chief – 56 HR 121,705.99
Sanchez, Frank Battalion Chief – 40 HR 121,308.58
Meisner, Nathaniel A Battalion Chief – 40 HR 118,001.59
Gallucci, Pasquale A Battalion Chief – 56 HR 117,002.01
Blea, James A Battalion Chief – 56 HR 116,851.81
Kane, Emily A Battalion Chief – 56 HR 116,798.88
Horton, Zar E Battalion Chief – 56 HR 115,153.09
Stracener, Ryan W Battalion Chief – 56 HR 110,354.69
ALBUQUERQUE FIRE AND RESCUE PARAMEDIC LIEUTENANTS (TOTAL 18)
Do,Si N Para Driver – 56 HR 145,018.19
Tapia, Jacob A Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 144,292.81
Longdon, Jonathan D Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 134,491.63
Ruiz, Thomas A Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 129,185.83
Woodard, Timothy C Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 126,448.18
Puariea, Karla P Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 125,148.94
Ruelas, James L Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 115,509.58
Martinez, Melvin J Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 115,208.12
Mee, Christian P Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 118,703.09
Routson, Thomas J Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 113,531.49
Renteria, Javier Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 111,478.87
Herrera, Robert C Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 110,753.35
Galindro, Michael R Lieutenant – 42 HR 110,409.86
Gonzales, Greg L Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 110,393.38
Ochoa, Gregory Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 110,049.01
Williams, Carla M Lieutenant – 40 HR 109,010.35
Tovar, Sergio Para Lieutenant – 40 HR 108,760.25
Olivares, Daniel Para Lieutenant – 56 HR 107,988.15
ALBUQUERQUE FIRE AND RESCUE CAPTAINS (TOTAL 7)
Anderson, Clinton L Para Captain – 56 HR 128,929.92
Salazar, Martin D Para Captain – 40 HR 120,632.70
Deal, Craig J Captain – 40 HR 118,496.41
Laprise, Robert Para Captain – 56 HR 115,192.99
Rantanen, Lloyd T Captain – 56 HR 113,063.71
Weaver, David Captain – 56 HR 111,635.48
Castillo, David V Captain – 56 HR 108,588.98
ALBUQUERQUE FIRE AND RESCUE PARAMEDIC DRIVERS (TOTAL 2)
Gomez, Jose FD-Fire RD1 Para Driver – 56 HR 118,661.69
Chavez,J ose I FD-Fire RD2 Para Driver – 40 HR 107,885.47
This is the city link to the full list of names, titles listing salaries starting with the highest paid to the least paid of the 250 top earning for 2019: