FY2026-FY2027 MOU, Buckeye Police Association - Final Redline.pdf

City of Buckeye — Regular Council Meeting (2025-05-06)

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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 
BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BUCKEYE AND THE 
BUCKEYE POLICE ASSOCIATION 
July 1, 2025– June 30, 2027 
WHEREAS, the Buckeye Police Association (the “Association”) has been Certified as the official and 
exclusive Employee Organization for the City of Buckeye’s Police Officers as defined by City of Buckeye 
Code Chapter 3, Article 3-5, Section 3-5-2 (the “Employee Group”) for purposes of Meet and Confer; and 
 
WHEREAS, the Association submitted proposals relating to the wages, hours and working conditions 
of the City’s Police Officers by November 15, 2024, and the City Manager submitted a response; and 
 
WHEREAS, the City Manager or designee and representatives of the Association have met and 
conferred at mutually agreed upon times and places for the purpose of purposing a Memorandum of 
Understanding to present to the Mayor and City Council relating to the wages, hours and working conditions 
of the City’s Police Officers; and 
WHEREAS, the City Manager, and representatives of the Association, have achieved agreement on 
items to be included in a Memorandum of Understanding to present to the Mayor and Council at the 
conclusion of Fiscal Year 2025. 
NOW, THEREFORE, this Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared by the City Manager 
and the Association for presentation to the Mayor and Council for their consideration, with the 
recommendation to accept the following items to be implemented effective the first payroll period of Fiscal 
Year 2026, or as soon thereafter as they reasonably can be implemented, and enforced during Fiscal Year 
2026 and Fiscal Year 2027 in accordance with City of Buckeye Code Chapter 3, Article 3-5, Section 3-5-9. 
 
 
WAGES AND HOURS 
1) Salary Structure (Appendix A) 
a) In accordance with City of Buckeye Employee Policies and Guidelines, Policy 300 members shall be 
paid on a step system which includes annual 5% steps.  
(1) Approved COLA adjustments shall be applied to Step 1 of Officer pay with all other steps adjusted 
based upon the 5% step structure. 
(2) Police recruits shall be paid at 95% of a step 1 Officer pay. 
(3) Police Sergeants shall be paid 8.4% higher than the top step Officer pay. 
 
b) Employees at the top step shall receive a lump sum payment following their anniversary date based 
upon the percentage annual (non-COLA) increase provided to the general employee group. 
c) Steps are provided on an employee’s anniversary date contingent upon budget availability. 
  
Increase 
over top of 
prior Range
Step Increase %
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Police Recruit
-5.00%
Police Officer
0.00%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
Police Sergeant
8.40%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
5.00%
Deleted: 2
Deleted: the 2022-2023 budget 
Deleted: y
Deleted: 2023-2024
Deleted: 4
Deleted: 5

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2) For purposes of calculating overtime pay, compensatory time used and industrial related leave to attend off-
duty appointments shall not be considered time worked and shall be deducted from “hours worked” in the 
workweek. All other leaves will be considered hours worked. The Association recognizes that compensatory 
time is not considered hours worked as overtime has already been paid against that bank of time. Sick, 
Vacation and Holiday Cash-outs do not count towards hours worked. 
3) An off-duty non-exempt employee who is called back to work prior to his/her regularly scheduled starting 
time and continues to work into the regular shift will be paid for the time worked. An employee called in at 
any other time will be guaranteed a minimum of three (3) hours of pay. 
 
4) City management will include in the annual wage and classification survey, premium pay for specialized 
assignments including but not limited to: field training, bilingual services, patrol sergeants, detective 
sergeants and detectives, traffic enforcement officers, K-9 and SWAT. 
5) The regular work hours for Police Officers will typically be either: (i) five shifts of eight consecutive hour’s 
duration in a seven-day period; or (ii) four shifts of ten consecutive hour’s duration in a seven-day period. 
a) Alternative work schedules may be established by the Chief following consultation with Association 
representatives. 
b) When practicable, prior to changing work schedules the Department will provide the Association two 
weeks’ notice of the change. This paragraph is not a guarantee of a fixed number of hours of work per 
week. 
6) Schedules for positions in the Employee Group that require immediate response to radio calls may include 
briefing time and 30-minute meal periods. 
7) When the training, experience, and ability of employees is relatively equal, the Department will consider 
seniority, defined as length of continuous service in a classification, as a factor in making decisions concerning 
work assignments, schedules, and layoffs. 
8) Shift Differential Pay 
a) Police Officers and Police Sergeants working a swing or graveyard shifts will receive shift differential 
pay for all hours worked on that shift. This additional compensation will be considered wages and all 
applicable tax and benefit withholdings shall apply. 
(1) Swing Shift differential pay for Officers and Sergeants will be equal to 2.5% of the top Police 
Officer step on the current Police Pay Scale. Swing Shift is defined as the majority of hours worked 
after 1100 hours.  
(2) Graveyard Shift differential pay for Officers and Sergeants will be equal to 4.0% of the top Police 
Officer step on the current Police Pay Scale. Graveyard Shift is defined as the majority of hours 
worked after 2000 hours.  
b) Employees who are called back or who are covering another shift for another employee, and that shift 
is eligible for shift differential, and the employee is performing work outside their regularly assigned 
shifts, shall receive shift differential pay. 
c) Shift differential is not paid to employees on paid or unpaid leave. 
9) Stand by Pay (On Call) 
a) Stand by pay is a type of premium pay that is paid to police officers and sergeants who are assigned 
to Specialty units as determined by the Chief of Police in a stand by (on call basis) to meet the needs 
of the department. Procedures for the use of this investigative resource are detailed in Buckeye Police 
Department Policy. 
Deleted: after completing his or her shift and leaving the 
work area will receive a minimum of three hours of pay. 
Call- back pay will be calculated at an overtime rate. Call 
back pay generally will be calculated from the time the 
employee starts working until the work is completed and 
he/she is released from duty.
Deleted:  
Deleted: working 
Deleted: and 
Deleted: an additional $1.25 per hour
Deleted: law enforcement
Deleted: the criminal investigations division. Due to the 
nature of their work assignment, criminal investigators 
are required to work, or be available to work, 
unscheduled duty related to call outs after hours or 
during regularly scheduled days off. This investigative 
resource is for both routine and extraordinary 
circumstances
Deleted:  617

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b) The method of compensation for standby/on call assignment consists of the following: 
(1) One (1) hour of compensation for assigned duty days. 
(2) Two (2) hours of compensation for assigned off duty days.  
10) Field Training Officers (FTO) 
a) Police Officers and Sergeants assigned by, and at the sole discretion of the Police Chief or designee 
and performing as a Field Training Officer or Field Training Sergeant shall receive a 5.0% increase to 
their base hourly rate of pay. 
(1) Police Officers assigned as FTO’s for new employees shall receive FTO assignment training pay 
for all hours worked. 
(2) Police Officers and Sergeants assigned as a part-time FTO shall receive FTO assignment training 
pay for all hours worked while they have been tasked by that unit’s command to provide newly 
assigned employees with the initial training necessary.  
11) Specialty Assignment Pay 
a) Full-time sworn police employees assigned to specialty assignments, as defined by the Police Chief, 
shall receive specialty pay which will be equal to 3.0% of the top Police Officer step on the current 
Police Pay Scale.  
(1) Examples of assignments include, but are not limited to, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), 
Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Traffic, and K9. 
(2) Employees shall only receive the Specialty Assignment Pay for a maximum of two (2) specialty 
assignments, regardless of the number of specialty units they are assigned to. 
b) Employees receiving this Specialty Assignment Pay acknowledge the payment will cease upon 
suspension, removal or other departure from any of these teams. This payment is considered wages 
and all applicable payroll deductions will apply. 
 
BENEFITS 
12) The Department may develop a program for every sworn officer to participate in one hour of physical 
fitness training per shift. 
13) If an employee is exposed to an infectious disease while carrying out his or her official duties, the City will 
pay for inoculating the employee if an inoculation is available. 
14) Before providing new benefit programs or changing benefit programs that are provided to the Employee 
Group, the City Manager or his/her representatives will meet with the Association’s representatives to 
explain the new or changed benefit programs. When practical, the City Manager will discuss Association 
proposals concerning new or changed benefit programs before they are implemented. 
15) Uniform Allowance – the uniform allowance shall be paid out semiannually as follows: 
a) $1,100.00 in the paycheck for the first full pay period in July. 
b) $1,100.00 in the paycheck for the first full pay period in January. 
16) The City Manager shall propose a citywide deferred compensation matching contribution in the FY2026 
Budget. If approved this will apply to all members of the BPA. 
 
Deleted: <#>¶
Compensation:¶
Deleted: ¶
Compensation may be taken as paid straight time or banked 
as straight time comp hours at the discretion of the 
employee.¶
Deleted: T
Deleted: P
Deleted: will be paid to the training employee when 
Deleted:  will receive an additional $1.50 per hour. 
Deleted: additional $1.50 per hour
Deleted: one
Deleted: premium payment
Deleted: is effective only when the employee is 
assigned, by the Chief of Police, to SWAT, CID, Traffic, 
or K9 and 
Deleted: <#>The Department, with the City Manager’s 
approval, may in its discretion credit a newly hired Officer 
with years of comparable service in the military or public 
safety department for purposes of calculating the officer’s 
vacation accrual.¶
A police officer will not accrue vacation in any payroll 
period in which he or she has been absent without 
approval, or any payroll period in which he has been on an 
unpaid leave of absence for two or more regular work 
shifts, except when on unpaid military leave.¶
Deleted:  and 
Deleted:  of each year

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ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS (PSU) 
17) Any employee under a criminal and/or administrative investigation shall not be subject to a polygraph. 
18) A Buckeye Police Association member employee shall have the right to both attendance by an Association 
Attorney and/or an Association member if so desired during any disciplinary procedure at no cost to the 
City. 
19) The City agrees that the police department disciplinary policies will not be imposed in addition to city 
policy for the purpose of disciplinary procedures. 
20) The Buckeye Police Association will be provided with the opportunity to review and comment on any 
proposed and/or revised police department policy. 
 
OTHER WORKING CONDITIONS 
21) When release time is desired, the Association President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer or their 
designee, will provide the Chief or the Chief’s designee with written notification to the Chief of the request 
for release time. The written request will state: 
a) (i) the public purpose of the release time and the consideration provided to the City in exchange 
for the release time requested; and (ii) the date(s) and time(s) requested; and (iii) the identity of 
the police officers for whom release time is being requested.  
b) The purpose for which release time may be approved: 
(i) To participate in City-sanctioned committees or sponsored charitable activities; 
(ii) Other legitimate Association business approved by the Chief. 
c) Notice must be submitted seven (7) days in advance except in cases of emergency. Release 
time may be approved if the Chief agrees the request is for a public purpose, is supported by 
adequate consideration to the City and if the time can be accommodated in lieu of the 
operational, staffing and training needs of the Department without additional cost to the City. 
Release time will be reasonable. Total release time taken by Association representatives will 
not exceed a cumulative total of five hundred sixty (560) hours per fiscal year. Nothing in 
this paragraph will be construed to permit a violation of any city Policy, rule, regulation or 
guideline. 
22) Association Board Members may utilize the City’s email system to communicate about the business of a 
certified Employee Organization. Such use will not disrupt work performance or normal business 
activities; will not interfere with the City’s operations; will not compromise the security or reputation of 
the City of Buckeye; will not burden the City with noticeable resource utilization or create costs for the City; 
and will comply with City Policies and Guidelines concerning the proper use of the City’s electronic 
resources. The City and the Association recognize that most email is a public record when sent or received. 
23) Association representatives may distribute materials on the City’s premises, as any other public 
entity, as long as the distribution does not disrupt work performance or normal business 
activities. 
24) The City will provide bulletin boards for use by a certified Employee Organization to 
communicate with its members. Employees must exercise courtesy, common sense, and decency 
in posting materials. Items which for example are abusive, harassing, defamatory, and/or 
unlawful or violate City policies will not be posted. 
Deleted: <#>Application of city policy in lieu of police 
department policy for violations will be at the discretion of 
the Chief of Police¶

25) The City will provide non-confidential, readily available information requested by a certified 
Employee Organization. The information may include, but is not limited to, information 
concerning the Employee Group, its personnel, benefits data and survey results. 
26) Future External Candidates for Buckeye Police Command Staff – Buckeye Police Association 
members may participate in any public forum for the purpose of meeting final external 
candidates for the positions of Chief of Police, Assistant Chief of Police and other Command 
Staff candidates above the rank of Lieutenant. 
27) During the term of the Memorandum of Understanding, the City Manager or his/her 
representatives or designees may meet with the Association’s representatives to discuss revisions 
to the Memorandum of Understanding in view of fiscal or budgetary constraints or 
unanticipated developments. 
Dated this _____ day of _________ 2025 
 
 
 
David B. Roderique 
Jason Woliver 
Interim City Manager 
Buckeye Police Association