The City of Colorado Springs offers a competitive pay package. New officers progress quickly from Police Recruit to the highest rate of pay.

Once the new recruit successfully graduates from the Training Academy and is certified as a Police Officer by the State of Colorado, they are promoted to Police Officer 4th. With satisfactory performance, progression to the next step may be accomplished in 12 months. Progression continues every 12 months until Police Officer 1st is reached.

Lateral recruits begin as a Police Officer 2nd. Progress to Police Officer 1st is contingent upon successfully graduating from the Colorado Springs Police Department Training Academy and appointment as a Police Officer. With satisfactory performance, progression to Police Officer 1st may be accomplished in 12 months from date of hire.

Longevity Pay

Beginning with the 6th year of employment, longevity pay of $20 per month is added to the base salary. This increases $4 per month at the beginning of each succeeding year until a maximum of $100 per month is attained at the beginning of the 26th year of employment.

Retirement

The City of Colorado Springs offers a defined benefit retirement plan. Normal retirement begins at age 55 with 25 years of service. Employees may be eligible to purchase service time. For further information on purchasing service time, contact the Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) at 1-800-332-3772.

The City and its sworn employees do not participate in the Federal Government?s Social Security System. Instead, sworn employees are members of the FPPA Statewide Defined Benefit Plan.

Benefits

The City of Colorado Springs? Benefits Programs provide a "menu" of benefits and allows employees to pay some of their share of health benefits with money that is not taxed. Take-home pay is actually increased because of the amount of tax savings from not paying Federal, State, Medicare and Pension taxes on the premiums paid.

The City offers a wide variety of benefits and benefit plans, including:

? Medical Insurance
? Vision Insurance
? Dental Insurance
? Pharmacy Benefit
? Health Care Spending Account
? Long-Term Care Insurance
? Basic Life Insurance
? Dependent Care Spending Account
? Short Term Disability
? Long Term Disability
? Vacation Buy
? Voluntary Term Life Insurance

Sick Leave: Officers accrue sick leave credit at the rate of 14 days per year. There is no waiting period before accumulated sick leave can be used. Sick leave may be accrued to a maximum of 1,168 hours.

Vacation: Years of service determines the number of vacation hours sworn employees earn in a year.

1 - 5 years = 96 hours
6 - 10 years = 112 hours
11 - 15 years = 136 hours
16+ years = 160 hours

Holidays: The City observes 10 eight-hour holidays each year. One personal eight-hour holiday is also granted upon completing twelve months of service.

Uniforms, Weapons and Special Equipment: Uniforms are issued and replaced at City expense with cleaning at employee expense. Weapons and most special equipment are also issued at City expense.

This summary is intended as an outline of benefits available. It is not intended to include all benefits or the details of these benefits. This summary is not intended as a legal contract. You will find more information on-line by accessing springsgov.com/Human Resources/Benefits Information/CREATE Connections and then selecting New Employee Benefits Guide.