Pittsburgh Regional Transit to raise pay for police supervisors 24% to stop them from leaving

Pittsburgh Regional Transit has reached a new contract with nine police supervisors that follows a pattern set by its deal with rank-and-file officers earlier this year: hefty raises to try to keep them with the agency rather than losing them to suburban departments with better pay.

Mike Cetra, PRT’s chief legal officer, told the authority board’s performance oversight committee Thursday the one-year deal begins in August 2024 and includes pay raises of 24%. The committee recommended the full board approve the contract when it meets next Friday.

The contract covers three lieutenants, one detective sergeant and five sergeants. In addition to raises, it includes two more sick days and a retroactive bonus of up to $4,000 for hours worked during the pandemic.

In February, rank-and-file officers signed a one-year contract with 18% raises, plus the increase in sick days and the pandemic bonus.

As a result of the new deals, rank-and-file members as well as supervisors will have contracts that expire at the same time, July 31, 2024. That will help the agency’s long-term financial planning, Cetra said.

When the agency approved the rank-and-file contract in February, officials said the variety of training its officers receive makes them attractive candidates for communities that can pay higher salaries and get fully trained officers. It has lost 25 officers to other jobs in the past five years.