Sewickley approves new 5-year police contract, promotes part-timer

Sewickley officials have inked a new five-year contract with their police department and promoted a part-time patrolman.

Both actions were done by unanimous vote earlier this month.

The contract runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2028. It includes 3% salary increases the first year and 2.5% annual wage hikes in the remaining years.

There are no changes to police healthcare contributions.

The department’s uniform allowance was increased to keep up with inflation. Martin Luther King Day was also added as a paid holiday.

The average full-time salary will be $42.59 per hour starting next year as a result of the contract. Part-time officers are not part of the collective bargaining agreement.

Borough manager Donna Kaib said part-time wages will be reviewed for next year’s budget.

“When the police department and the borough came together, both understood the other side’s needs,” Kaib said of the negotiations. “At the end, the agreement was fair to both parties. Each one of our officers is greatly appreciated and valued by the borough.”

Officers Derek Miller negotiated on behalf of the department.

He said his side unanimously voted on the agreement in late August.

This is the first Sewickley contract negotiated by Miller. He has many years experience in contract negotiations with other departments.

“I’ve been (done) 29 years in police work, negotiating for 20 of them,” Miller said. “This was by far the easiest negotiations. It’s fair for both sides. We’re very grateful to have a council borough manger and chief that we have to finalize this. We greatly appreciate the council we have. I’ve never seen this work out this easy.”

The department has 12 full-time officers and 15 part-timers.

“We had a good team negotiating,” council president Cynthia Mullins said. “One of the big contributors to the quality of life here is our professional police force. We very much want to retain a professional force.”

Kaib and councilmen Todd Hamer and Todd Renner were on the borough’s negotiation team.

The current contract was set to expire at the end of the year.

Patrolman promotion

Officer Raymon Darcel Bouyer was bumped to full-time after having been a part-time patrolman since Sept. 18, 2018.

His start date in the new position is Nov. 1 and is expected to be sworn in at the Nov. 14 meeting. Bouyer’s salary is about $75,000.

Mullins offered a round of applause at this month’s meeting after the vote.

“He’s well-known in the community,” Mullins said. “He’s been at a lot of our events.”

Chief David Mazza said the promotion is well-deserved and highlighted Bouyer’s military background.

Bouyer, 45, of Hopewell served in the Army and the Air Force for four years each.

He previously worked as a narcotics detective for the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, as well as an officer for Leetsdale, Mt. Oliver and Avalon police departments.

Mazza said Bouyer has “a well-rounded police frame of mind to approaching situations and a phenomenal work ethic.”

“I’ve never heard him question anything or say ‘no’ when presented with a task or asked to do something,” Mazza said. “Everything is done with a ‘yes, sir’ and a smile on his face. He has a true appreciation for the job and takes great pride in it.”