Newport cops to get top pay in O.C.

Newport Beach police will be the highest paid in salary and benefits in Orange County, after the City Council voted Tuesday to give officers an 11% raise and police management a 10.25% raise over the next three years.

Before the raise, Huntington Beach officers were the county’s highest paid, and Newport’s were second, according to a survey the city took while negotiating with police, Assistant City Manager Sharon Wood said. In the new contract’s first year, the top monthly salary for a police officer will be $6,564 — a year’s total at that salary is $78,768.

The new three-year contract with police will cost $3.7 million through 2009. It offers more pay to employees other than police officers who get more education, boosts contributions to health insurance and retiree medical costs, and offers management employees a differential for staying with the department.

The contract replaces one that ended last month.

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