El Paso Police, Firefighters Agree To Postpone Raises

EL PASO, Texas — El Paso police officers and firefighters have voted to postpone their 2009 raises to 2010 to help the city of El Paso meet its budget for fiscal year 2010, the El Paso Municipal Police Officers’ Association announced Wednesday.

Robert Gomez, president of the EPMOA, said the decision was passed by a large majority. Police officers would have received a 2 percent raise in September. In addition, the officers agreed to give up overtime pay for working holidays. Instead, they will be granted additional days off.

“The city approached us in June, asking our men and women to give up $1.2 million in compensation. There is a huge budget shortfall, and our members have shown a lot of heart. I am very impressed with my fellow officers’ generosity today,” Gomez said in a news release.

The El Paso Association of Fire Fighters also agreed by a majority vote to postpone their raises.