Five high-ranking city police officials yesterday received raises averaging $8,340 a year -- a 12.4 percent increase over current salaries.
The raises for the police colonels are designed to compensate them for duties they assumed when the positions of four deputy commissioners were abolished this year and to keep their salaries competitive with those in surrounding localities, city officials said.
Edward E. Ambrose, director of the department's fiscal division, told the Board of Estimates that even with the raises, the department would save money on executive salaries this year because the four deputy commissioner positions were eliminated. "We're looking at a savings of $125,000."
But City Council President Mary Pat Clarke voted against the raises. "Keep it in mind when we need things for the officers on the street," she said.
After the meeting, Officer Gary McLhinney, head of the local Fraternal Order of Police, said the union also opposed the raises. "I would hope they would look at improving the pay situation for the rank and file rather than continually looking to improve the salaries of the bosses," he said.
Earlier this year, the union approved a two-year contract calling for raises of 3 percent this year and 5 percent next year.
The raises granted by the board yesterday vary slightly, depending on seniority.
Col. Leon Tomlin, head of the neighborhood patrol bureau, received the largest raise, $8,900. His salary went from $71,900 to $80,800.
Col. Joseph Bolesta, head of human resources, had his salary upped $8,700, from $70,100 to $78,800; Colonel Steven Crumrine, head of technical services, got a raise of $8,300, from $66,700 to $75,000.
Cols. Ronald Daniel, head of criminal investigations, and Margaret Patton, head of research and development, each got a $7,900 raise -- from $63,500 to $71,400.
In addition to the colonels' raises, the department's chief spokesman, Sam Ringgold, received a $2,700 raise, upping his salary from $57,500 to $60,200.