DIXFIELD – Police officers will receive a salary increase on July 1 that will bring them closer to pay earned by officers in nearby towns.
“They are still lower than Mexico and Rumford but we’re in the ballpark,” said Chief Richard Pickett on Wednesday.
Some police officers hired in Dixfield have moved on to Mexico or Rumford police departments in recent years.
Town Manager Jeff Jacobson said the Dixfield Police Department budget of $202,000 approved by voters at the annual town meeting earlier this month will allow the top two officers with the most experience in the department to go from $14.47 and $14.03 an hour to $15 an hour, and the third officer, who recently completed Maine Criminal Justice Academy training, to go from $13.50 an hour to $14.50.
All starting academy-trained officers will begin at $14.50 an hour.
The rate for reserve officers will go to $12 an hour from $11.50.
Pickett is reviewing applications from two of his officers for the re-instated position of sergeant. The most qualified of the two officers will be named police sergeant next month and will receive $1 an hour more.
Jacobson said boosting police officer salaries ensures equity among municipal positions.
The hourly wage for beginning officers in Mexico, as of July 1, 2005, was $14.21 and in Rumford, $14.25. The wage for the sergeant’s position in Mexico was $15.33 and in Rumford, $16.57.
Mexico and Rumford police departments are unionized. Dixfield’s department is not.
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