City of Long Beach Reaches Tentative Labor Agreement with Long Beach Police Officers Association

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PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach has reached a tentative three-year labor agreement with the Long Beach Police Officers Association (POA) to remain competitive with other agencies seeking quality police officers, address issues of recruitment and retention and incentivize critical skill sets.

"Our police officers take on complex and demanding responsibilities, and this agreement acknowledges the skill, professionalism and leadership required in today's public safety environment," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "By prioritizing fair compensation, enhanced training incentives and support for specialized roles, we are reinforcing Long Beach's commitment to our community's evolving public safety needs."

"This agreement supports organizational stability by aligning compensation and training incentives with the operational needs of the Police Department," said City Manager Tom Modica. "It positions the City to continue delivering high-quality public safety services while responsibly planning for the years ahead. Thank you to the POA for their partnership in this agreement."

The tentative agreement includes the following major terms:

• Three-year contract from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2028.
• General salary increases of 3% in the first year, 4% in the second year and 5% in the third year.
• One-time payments for each POA classification in the first year.
• Increase to Solo Patrol Premium Pays:
  • Police Officers who are assigned and work a one-officer unit in Patrol on Watch 1 and Watch 3 will receive 10% of Step 5 Police Officer base hourly rate.
  • Police Officers who are assigned and work a one-officer unit in Patrol on Watch 2 will receive 5% of Step 5 Police Officer base hourly rate.
• Increase Field Training Officer Premium Pay to 15% of Step 5 Police Officer base hourly rate.
• Creation of New Specialized Unit Field Training Officer Pay of 5% of Step 5 of Police Officer base hourly rate.
• Creation of New Field Training Officer Divisional Sergeant Pay of 2.5% of Step 5 of Police Officer base hourly rate.
• New Intermediate Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certificate pay: POA members who obtained Intermediate POST Certificate will receive 3% of Step 5 Police Officer.

"This contract reflects a shared understanding of the challenges facing police staffing and the need to remain competitive in Southern California. After months of focused and constructive discussions, our members supported the resulting agreement because it addresses key issues tied to recruitment, training, and retention. That stability is critical for our officers and the community we serve," said POA President Rich Chambers.

Members of the POA voted to ratify the agreement on Dec. 22, 2025. The agreement will go before the Long Beach City Council for consideration and public discussion on Jan. 20, 2026. The POA represents approximately 730 employees.

Prior to reaching this agreement, City and POA representatives held 15 meetings since June 2025. This agreement's total structural annual net fiscal impact costs once fully implemented in FY 26 is $24.8 million across All Funds ($23.8 million of which is in the General Fund).

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-with Port of Long Beach.

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