Senate passes pay raises for state law enforcement officers

AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate on Wednesday pass a bill to provide sorely needed pay increases to state law enforcement officers, thereby increasing the state’s efforts to recruit and retain talented men and women to public service.

The bill, LD 1523, originally provided pay increases to law enforcement supervisors, who were departing state service in droves to take higher-paying jobs at the local or county level. The bill was amended by the Appropriations Committee to also include LD 1653, which provided raises for rank-and-file state law enforcement officers.

The Senate removed the bill from the Appropriations Table before being passed and funded in a 33-1 vote.

“The brave men and women who protect us from criminals and enforce our laws had their pay frozen during the recession, and it’s time to make them whole,” said Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, the lead Senate Democrat on the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. “They watched as their buddies in local police departments or county sheriff’s offices saw their pay raise with the cost of living. But their own salaries were stuck, even as their bills grew. This bill gives our law enforcement officers what they deserve.”

The bill, as amended, would provide 5 percent pay raises to state troopers, game wardens, fire marshals and other state law enforcement officers.

The bill faces final votes in the House and Senate.

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