Long Beach has reached a tentative labor agreement with the Long Beach Police Officers Association, which will help the Police Department remain competitive with other agencies seeking quality officers, address issues of recruitment and retention, and incentivize critical skill sets, according to a Monday, Jan. 12, city announcement released.
The three-year contract for the Police Officers Association will run retroactively from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2028. The contract still needs to be approved by the City Council, officials said.
“This contract reflects a shared understanding of the challenges facing police staffing and the need to remain competitive in Southern California,” POA President Rich Chambers said in a statement. “After months of focused and constructive discussions, our members supported the resulting agreement because it addresses key issues tied to recruitment, training, and retention. That stability is critical for our officers and the community we serve.”
The agreement between Long Beach and the Police Officers Association includes increased salaries of 3% in the first year, 4% in the second year and 5% in the third year; one-time payments for each POA classification in the first year; increased solo patrol premium pay; increased field training officer premium pay; and new intermediate peace officer standards and training certificate pay.
The tentative agreement also includes the creation of new positions, such as a new specialized unit field training officer and a new field training officer divisional sergeant.
“This agreement supports organizational stability by aligning compensation and training incentives with the operational needs of the Police Department,” City Manager Tom Modica said in a statement. “It positions the City to continue delivering high-quality public safety services while responsibly planning for the years ahead. Thank you to the POA for their partnership in this agreement.”
The Long Beach Police Officer Association represents about 730 employees; members of the association voted to ratify the agreement on Dec. 22. Prior to reaching this agreement, city and association representatives had held 15 meetings since June, officials said.
The agreement’s total structural annual net fiscal impact costs, once fully implemented in fiscal year 2026, are around $24.8 million across all funds – $23.8 million of which is in the general fund, according to the city announcement.
“Our police officers take on complex and demanding responsibilities, and this agreement acknowledges the skill, professionalism and leadership required in today’s public safety environment,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “By prioritizing fair compensation, enhanced training incentives and support for specialized roles, we are reinforcing Long Beach’s commitment to our community’s evolving public safety needs.”
The agreement will go before the Long Beach City Council for consideration and public discussion on Tuesday, Jan. 20.