DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The city of Delray Beach and its police union have reached an agreement on the terms of a new contract.
We've been following the dispute for nearly a year, including a six-month impasse.
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This contract agreement is a moment Delray Beach police officers have been waiting on for nearly a year, as they were caught in the middle of a dispute between the city and their union.
One of the biggest debates was the department’s retirement benefit known as the deferred retirement option program (DROP).
Here are the new details:
- Both sides agreed on the union's push to extend the department’s drop window from five years to eight years, which incentivizes senior officers to remain on the job while simultaneously contributing to their retirement benefits. That change won’t go into effect Oct. 1, 2026
- The city agreed to add $500,000 to $600,000 to the salary budget over a three-year period; lieutenants will also see a raise
- Both sides agreed on clarifying wording about when the city can request psychological testing of officers when they have concerns
- They also agreed to clarify drug and alcohol testing policy for officers if they're in an accident
A months-long gridlock between the city of Delray Beach and the police union on the details for the next police contract is finally over.
“This has been a long fought meeting, it’s been a long fought process, you’ve been to a lot of the meetings," Mayor Tom Carney said. "You’ve seen the back and forth.”
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Carney expressed the challenges of protecting tax payer money, and improving the contract for officers who protect the city.
"We want to make sure that we’re fair to the officers and the community," he said.
This was the first time the city of Delray Beach met face to face with the Police Benevolent Association and their attorneys.
Union attorneys shared the department has lost at least 25 officers since negotiations began in June 2024.
Negotiations reached an impasse in February, which then caused them to go before a magistrate hearing.
An evidentiary hearing was conducted on May 14 in Delray Beach. Both the PBA and the city were represented by counsel and made presentations regarding their positions for the magistrate’s consideration. Both parties submitted exhibits, but both sides still couldn't come to an agreement, which is what brought them to today's meeting.
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“This is the best deal you’re going to get out of the commission right here,” Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association President John Kazanjian said. "I’m not going to call it a win or a loss. I’m just going to say it’s a happy medium so far."
Negotiations thus far have been between the city and the union.
Now, police officers will get to review the terms before there is a final vote to approve the new contract.
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