Havre police salaries lag behind state

Salaries paid to Havre police lag behind other cities of similar size in the state, although the city’s crime rate is higher and the per capita income is greater.

That’s according to a report prepared for City Council by police officer Brian Cassidy Monday night.

Cassidy studied 11 cities with populations fewer than 10,000 people throughout Montana. He said he tried to find cities comparable to Havre.

He said he hoped the report would “help express the challenges the city of Havre along with the Havre Police Department face in retaining and recruiting officers.”

Havre falls behind the state average for pay to probationary officers and for pay given to officers with a year’s experience, he said.

Health benefits are similar to what most other officers get, he said, but some departments provide optional plans for the officers.

Cassidy granted council members that salaries may be higher in some areas, such as Sidney, because of the high cost of living caused by the Bakken oil boom.

But that doesn’t explain the differences with other, smaller communities.

Some council members appeared concerned by the report.

“We don’t want to be the Bakken,” said Council Member Pam Hillery. “But we think you guys are doing a good job.”

Others were concerned that Havre’s crime rate is so much higher than the rest of the state.

Cassidy speculated that it is because Havre is at the crossroads of highways 2 and 87, and because it is the largest city in the area.

The Havre department has hired 47 police officers since 1999, he said. Of those, only 13 are still employed.

“That means the city of Havre has trained 34 Officers but have failed to retain their employment for one reason or another,” the report states.

City by city, the report states:

Havre: The population at the 2010 Census was 9,310. The average household income is $44,074. The crime rate is prorated to 301.8 per 100,000 people.The pay for probationary officers is $16.78. After one year, the salary increases to $18.55

Anaconda, with a population of 9,292, and median household income of $34,716, pays probationary officer, $15.19 and officers with a year of service $18.54.

Belgrade, with a population of 7,389 and an average household income of $42,680, pays probationary officers $19.30 and an officer with one year experience $22.58.

Glasgow, which has a population of 3,250 and an average household income of $41,054, pays probationary officers $21.27 and one-year officers $21.47.

Laurel has a population of 6,782 and a household income of $48,050. Probationary officers are paid $19.88 and one-year officers are paid $21.22. Crime rate is on a pro-rated basis is 168.8 per 100,000 people.

Dillon has a population of 4,134. Average household income is $37,923. Crime rate: 68.2 per 100,000 people. Probationary pay is $16.35, one-year pay, $18.43

Livingston has a population of 7,044, and the median household income is $37,879. Probationary pay is $17.84/$22.12, one-year pay is $20.02/$24.46.

Lewistown has a 5,901 population and a $34,353 median household income. The crime rate is 148.6 per 100,000. Probationary pay: $17.79, one-year officers, $17.79.

Columbia Falls: Population is 4,688 and average household income is $39,215. Crime rate is 132.2 per, 100,000. Probationary pay: $17.22, One-year pay: $18.70.

Miles City’s population is 8,410, and average household income is $41,386. Probationary pay is $18 an hour, after one year of service, that rises to $20.39.

Sidney: The 2010 population was 5,181, and the median income was $53,843. The probationary pay is $22.81 and after one year, it rises to $23.21.

Whitefish: The city has 6,357 people and an average household income of $44,504. Crime rate: 191.3 per 100,000 people. Probationary pay is $18.72, which rises to $21.54 after a year.

Such stats as crime rates, were not available for every community.