Santa Fe police union: Proposed bonus is a 'slap in the face'

A proposal by Mayor Alan Webber to offer bonuses to Santa Fe police officers in hopes of preventing them from leaving for better-paying jobs in other departments may not be going anywhere.

The president of the Santa Fe Police Officers Association, Detective Tony Trujillo, said Monday he doubts police officers will accept Webber’s proposition. Though he declined to disclose the amount, Trujillo called the city’s proposed retention bonuses “insulting” and “a slap in the face” to the department’s rank and file.

“The mayor indicated that he was going to do everything he could to stop the bleeding and to keep our officers from leaving, but the amount that the city agreed upon was nowhere near where we wanted it to be,” Trujillo said. “It’s not going to stop anyone from leaving, and if it’s any indication as to [potential] salary increases [under a new contract] in July, I hate to say it, but it’s not going to be a good year for Santa Fe police officers.”

Trujillo confirmed the union had requested a $15,000 retention bonus for each officer, but it was only meant as a starting point in its negotiations with the city, which he said countered with a fraction of the amount.

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