The City of Schenectady Police Officers work 8 hour and 20 minute shifts. Members primarily work a rotating weekly schedule of 5 days on & 2 days off, then 6 days on & 3 days off. For this the City of Schenectady provides its Police Officers a very competitive benefit package.
Salary (As of January 2017)
Academy Rate - $40,754
Step 1 (upon Academy graduation) - $49,884
Step 2 - $51,961
Step 3 - $56,124
Step 4 - $62,356
Step 5 - $72,876
Step 6 - $74,924
Annual Longevity Pay (Paid after the Completion of)
1st year of service – 2% of base salary
2nd year of service – 2% of base salary
3rd year of service – 2% of base salary
4th year of service – 2% of base salary
5th thru 9th years of service – 4.25% of base salary
10th thru 14th years of service – 5.75% of base salary
15th thru 18th years of service – 7.25% of base salary
19th year of service & thereafter – 8.25% of base salary
Paid Holidays and Holiday Pay (check issued in December)
Generally, Department members receive an annual check consisting of 12 days pay for the following holidays, providing they reside in the City of Schenectady during the first six years of employment:
The following days listed below if the department member is assigned to work will also be paid as overtime during the pay period that day falls in, in addition to the aforementioned Holiday Pay.
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Lincoln’s Birthday
Washington’s Birthday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Election Day
Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Compensatory Time When working overtime, members can elect to take up to 2/3 of the overtime earned in compensatory time in lieu of money. Members may accumulate a maximum of 240 hours of compensatory time.
Paid Sick Leave During the first 15 years of service, sick leave is earned at a rate of 15 days per year (1 per month plus an additional 3 on the member’s next anniversary date)
After completion of 15 years of service, sick leave is earned at a rate of 18 days per year (1.5 days per month)
Upon initial employment, a member is credited with a catastrophic bank of 240 days. This bank is reduced by 40 hours on each anniversary date of employment.
Members shall be allowed to use a maximum of three (3) days per calendar year of their sick leave accruals for illness to a member of their immediate family. The term “immediate family” shall apply to spouse, significant other, children, or any relative residing in the household.
Paid Vacation Members are given paid vacation in the following manner:
1st year of service – 7 days (credited on a pro-rated basis on 12/31 of year of hire – to be used the following year)
2nd year of service – 10 days
3rd year of service – 15 days
4th year of service – 20 days
5th year of service & thereafter – 25 days
Paid Personal Leave In addition to paid vacations members are permitted 24 hours each calendar year of paid Personal Leave
Bereavement/Death Leave Members are given if needed or requested up to 5 consecutive paid days due to a death in immediate family (spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent)
Health and Dental Insurance The City provides hospitalization, medical, dental, and vision benefits for each officer and their family (spouse and children). The City’s dental insurance provider is Delta Dental. Members must contribute a portion of the costs of their health and dental insurance in the following ratio:
City Employee
1st thru 5th Year of Employment 80% 20%
6th thru 8th Year of Employment 85% 15%
9th Year of Employment 90% 10%
10th Year of Employment & thereafter into retirement 95% 5%
Vision Plan City of Schenectady provides a vision plan that is managed by Davis Vision that includes a yearly eye exam with select frames for glasses or a pair of contacts and or a discount on out of plan frames and contacts.
Life Insurance The City provides the following life insurance coverage:
$10,000 on the employee
$ 5,000 on the employee’s spouse
$ 1,000 on each of the employee’s children who are six months of age or older
$ 100 on each of the employee’s children who are less than 6 months old
In addition, the policy contains a 24-hour accidental death and dismemberment provision so that if the member dies as a result of any accident, a benefit of $30,000 will be paid.
Uniforms and Equipment All necessary uniforms and equipment are provided at the City’s expense.
Tuition Reimbursement Members who successfully complete optional educational courses related to the furtherance of their proficiency as a police officer are eligible to be reimbursed by the City for 50% of the cost of the tuition and other expenses
Retirement/Pension The City provides a non-contributory retirement plan per the NYS & Local Police & Fire Retirement System