LAPD PAY BOOST APPROVED : OFFICERS WOULD GET 15% RAISE OVER 3 YEARS; DISCIPLINARY DEFENSE LOOMS AS ISSUE.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy and Jaxon Van Derbeken Daily News Staff Writers

The City Council approved a contract offer for LAPD officers Friday that would raise their pay 15 percent over the next three years - which Mayor Richard Riordan said would make them the highest paid officers of any major U.S. city.

``I'll take it,'' said Officer Scott Crowe of the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill Division, a six-year veteran. ``I'm sure it will help some.''

Riordan and City Council members were optimistic that the plan would win approval from rank-and-file LAPD officers.

``I think the police are getting what is fair and just,'' Riordan said.

``It means we (would) have the highest-paid police force of any major city in the country and we're working together and we're going to make the city safer,'' the mayor said.

Base pay for a patrol officer in Los Angeles now ranges from $35,538 to $47,982 a year.

``I think they got everything they wanted,'' said Capt. George Aliano, former head of the Police Protective League and now a leader in the LAPD's Command Officers Association.

``They walked in asking for 15 percent over three years, because it was reasonable, and they got that,'' he said. ``They talked to a lot of people in city government and made their case.''

Aliano said the command officers likely will seek the same deal.

Union officials were pleased with the offer of 5 percent pay raises for each of the next three years. But they voiced concern about a city proposal to shift to the union the cost of providing defense representatives for officers facing disciplinary action.

``The financial part of it is fine,'' said Cliff Ruff, president of the Police Protective League. ``The question is whether the membership is willing to accept the concessions.''

Ruff said union negotiators will receive the formal, written city offer Monday, at which point the union board will decide whether it's good enough to submit to the membership for a vote.

The union head said he is inclined to support submitting the deal for a vote so the officers can decide whether the attractive pay raises are worth the concessions.

``I think it should be up to the membership,'' Ruff said.

The council approved the offer on a 12-0 vote. Council President John Ferraro predicted that the city's latest offer would settle the contract talks before the current contract expires June 30.

Ferraro said the pay hikes, which would cost $25 million a year, would make the LAPD more competitive with other area law enforcement agencies, which have wooed officers away for better pay.

He said the council gave the union much of what it demanded.

``We reached a tentative agreement,'' Ferraro said after the council vote. ``We think we're going to reach a settlement, but the ball's in their court.''

Aliano agreed with city officials that the raises would help boost morale and slow attrition.

``I'd say it's definitely a start,'' he said. ``People are going to feel good about how they were treated; being treated fairly is the beginning of good morale.''

``This is one ingredient in improving morale, but morale involves many issues,'' he said. ``One is fair treatment - this is a show to the officers that they are important, an ingredient in morale - it's a lot more complicated than just salary, but it helps.''

In return for the pay raise, the city asked the union to give up three paid holidays a year. The union countered by offering to give up four days of sick leave a year, which the city accepted.

``It has to be seen as a step forward to settle the police negotiations,'' said Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas. ``The league and presumably the officers are satisfied with the decision of the council. To the extent that is the case, maybe we can get down to the business of effective law enforcement.''

Following the vote, the Police Protective League said it would cancel plans to picket a major tourism show at the Convention Center next week.

Two years ago, officers staged a massive sickout and held large demonstrations to show their anger over stalled contract talks.

The major sticking point this time may be over who will be responsible for providing defense representatives to help officers fight disciplinary actions.

Currently, the LAPD pays for officers to represent colleagues before disciplinary boards - as provided under the City Charter. The city wants the PPL to pick up those costs, but that will require voter approval.

Both sides have agreed to negotiate terms of the shift as well as the overall disciplinary process, which union officials have criticized as unfair.

If no resolution has been reached by July 1, 1997, union officials have agreed not to oppose a ballot measure that would shift the responsibility for paying defense representatives to the union, City Council members said.

Sgt. Brett Papworth in Van Nuys said the employees have different interests in addition to monetary issues, ranging from equipment to medical benefits.

``Obviously, the officers will be thrilled. I know I will be,'' he said. ``The component of better pay, we're starting to get more equipment, getting some more personnel - all of those are a plus, morale-wise.''

But, he said, different things are important to different officers.

He noted that the pension offered by the department is still considered inferior to those of the Sheriff's Department and other agencies.

``The city has to address the issue that they are losing a lot of officers to other department who simply offer a better program, when it comes to pay and benefits,'' he said. ``And those departments don't have nearly the work load we do.''

The pension is the key factor for Officer Earl Fisher, a 25-year veteran stationed at the Devonshire Division.

``The money part sounds fine to me,'' Fisher said. ``The only part that I'm really concerned about is medical. The younger guys, they could care less.''

He said a key to improving morale is adopting a three-day, 12-hour work shift.

``The people I know say it's like a new job for them, they are just ecstatic - they go to work with a better attitude.''