Supporters of higher police raises in Portsmouth stage protest

PORTSMOUTH

More than 200 people marched several blocks Monday evening to demand better pay for police, demonstrating longtime complaints about salary.

The crowd included police, sheriff’s deputies, family members, Sheriff Bill Watson, residents and a handful of candidates for the City Council.

Mayor James Holley – wearing a T-shirt supporting better police pay – and his election challenger, Martha Ann Creecy, made appearances.

Marchers headed from the Fraternal Order of Police lodge on County Street to the new traffic circle, and stood with signs supporting raises. Some passers-by honked in support.

A budget proposed by City Manager Kenneth Chandler would give police 4 percent raises and includes $250,000 to address issues of public safety pay “compression” – so-called when newer employees make similar salaries to experienced ones.

That proposal is “unacceptable,” said Jason Knorowski, president of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, who said it doesn’t address longtime concerns. “That’s not even cost of living,” he said. “We’re frustrated year after year.”

John Boaz, an FOP second vice president, said the proposal “still puts most of our officers below market pay.”

Roberta Monell, a retired police officer who works for the sheriff’s department, said inflation is eating away at salaries.

“Everything’s doubled but our pay,” she said. “The priorities have been wrong.”

Matthew Roy, (757) 446-2540, matthew.roy@pilotonline.com