Louisville Metro Police negotiate new 4-year contract with city

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police negotiated a new contract with the city.

On Wednesday, Mayor Craig Greenberg, LMPD chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel and River City FOP president Ryan Nichols announced the four-year contract for all officers, sergeants, lieutenants and captains.

The contract proposes a 22% salary increase over the next four years, with backpay dating back to July 2023. Members will receive an immediate 7% raise as part of the new contracts. The starting annual pay for LMPD officers will increase from $52,000 to nearly $67,000 by July 2026.

"If we want to fill those positions with good trusted officers that we all want, we must pay them competitive wages," Greenberg said.

The city hopes a new deal with the union will help retain and recruit police officers. LMPD is currently 260 officers short.

"We must attract officers who have the passion and drive to serve our community as well as being able to take care of themselves and their families," Gwinn-Villaroel said.

At a special meeting on Monday evening, citizen groups from across the city called for no raises until demands are met. Those demands included having a tracking system of complaints made against police and increasing department transparency pertaining to grievances and personnel files.

LMPD rank and file have been working without a contract since June 2023, which means no raises until Metro Council approves the contract. If the contract is approved, first year officers can expect at least a $5,000 raise the first year and $20,000 after the third year.

Prior to the public hearing Monday night, Metro Council Public Safety Committee was given a list of demands or changes to the pending police contract.

For information about the Collective Bargaining Agreements for police officers and sergeants, click here. For information about the Collective Bargaining Agreements for captains and lieutenants, click here.

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