CITY POLICE TO GET 9% RAISE COUNCIL TOPS BUDGET FORECAST BY MILLIONS.

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

The Los Angeles City Council agreed Wednesday to give the Police Department's 9,100 officers a 9 percent raise over the next three years - a boost expected to leave a $15 million hole in the already shaky city budget.

The raise will cost taxpayers $80 million this year, compared with the $70 million estimated when officials drafted the budget. A raise being negotiated by the city's firefighters is expected to add $5 million to the deficit.

Coupled with a cut in state funding and the still-stagnant economy, the higher-than-budgeted raises could spell financial disaster for the city, said Councilman Bernard C. Parks, former Los Angeles Police Department chief.

``I don't think it's an issue of whether the Police Department deserves the pay raise,'' said Parks, who cast the only dissenting vote on the contract for officers through the rank of lieutenant.

``I think every time we can pay police officers more, I would support that. But I think the issue is the timing. We have a situation here where we could be $300 million in the hole at the end of the fiscal year.''

The council has approved raises of 5 percent for the fiscal year that began July 1, costing tens of millions of dollars.

If the city doesn't rein in its spending, it will mean fewer services, such as tree trimming and street paving, Parks warned. He urged a reconsideration of the package that includes increases of 2 percent, 3 percent and 4 percent over each of the next three years.

Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton concurred with Parks' assessment of the situation, but said he still supported the contract.

``His analysis of what fiscally this does,'' Deaton said, ``is absolutely accurate, and we will have to make compensations for it.''

``There will be a consequence,'' agreed City Administrative Officer Bill Fujioka, who said the $15 million gap, which includes the expected pay raise for firefighters who are still negotiating a contract, will have to be offset with cuts in other services.

Other council members disagreed with Parks on priorities, saying the council should make the LAPD its top priority.

``When given the choice of making smooth streets or safe streets, in this contract we chose safe streets, and we'll talk about the other issues as they come forward,'' said West Valley Councilman Greig Smith, a reserve LAPD officer.

Many on the council said the LAPD needs to be competitive in recruiting and keeping officers. Currently, the annual pay for LAPD rookies is more than $46,000, while the pay scale for lieutenants tops out at more than $102,000.

Bob Baker, president of the Police Protective League union, said he was a bit surprised by the last-minute opposition from Parks but wouldn't try to analyze it. The league, which represents the rank and file, was harshly critical of Parks' tenure, which ended about 16 months ago when the Police Commission ousted him.

``I do believe this is ... extremely fair for not only ... the men and women in blue, but also for the city,'' Baker said.

Baker noted that the contract includes - for the first time - a reopener clause, which would allow city officials to request a renegotiation of the contract if the economy took a bad turn.

The contract also gives Police Chief William Bratton something he's sought since he started the job last year - the ability to have more detectives work nights and weekends.

``(Under) the prior contract, he has very limited flexibility,'' Fujioka said. ``This virtually gives him total flexibility in the assignment of detectives to address high crime areas and operational needs.''

Mariel Garza, [phone]

mariel.garza(at)dailynews.com