Forest Lake police willing to take pay freeze to keep department
FOREST LAKE, Minn. (KMSP) - Forest Lake police officers are willing to take a two-year pay freeze in order to prevent the city from contracting law enforcement services from Washington County Sheriff's Office.
During public comment at the Forest Lake City Council meeting, Executive Director of Law Enforcement Labor Services Sean Gormley presented the plan in front of a packed room of residents. He says all Forest Lake officers and sergeants would take a zero percent pay increase for 2017 and 2018.
"Absolutely it’s an olive branch," said Gormley. "I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the state of Minnesota are there police union locals asking for zero percent for two years."
City officials have said switching to a contract with Washington County would be a cost-saving measure.