PB Council tables raises for Police and Fire…Back to the drawing board

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By Ray King

After nearly two hours of debating and arguing about pay increases for Pine Bluff Police and Fire and Emergency Services personnel, the City Council on Monday decided it was time to go back to the drawing board.

Council member Joni Alexander was asked about the debate after the meeting ended.

On the agenda were three options for pay raises for uniform personnel, plus a resolution to increase the salary of the police chief from $90,152 to $100,000 plus benefits. That resolution was scheduled to be the first to be debated and voted on, but Council Member Ivan Whitfield asked that it be tabled until the other three resolutions had been discussed.

“It’s clear that this legislation has stopped everything else in its tracks,” Whitfield said. “It’s not right and I’m afraid the only person who is going to get anything out of this is the (new) chief.”

Whitfield was referring to efforts by Mayor Shirley Washington to increase the salary of the police chief in order to hire Robert Jones, who was the only candidate brought to Pine Bluff for a personal interview with the selection committee.

Whitfield’s motion was approved by a vote of 7-0 with Council Member Steven Mays absent because of illness.

Of the three resolutions dealing with pay increases for uniformed police and firefighters, Council Member Lloyd Holcomb Jr. sponsored one and talked to Deltaplex News about it.

All four resolutions were tabled while council members look at revenue projections from the casino as well as money from the American Rescue Plan which could be used to offer bonuses in the form of hazardous duty pay as a result of COVID.

Council Member Bruce Lockett suggested tabling any pay increases until the 2022 budget, a suggestion that the Mayor agreed with.