Indiana Representatives: Conservation Officers matter less than State Troopers

[Willie]

From WildIndiana

Indiana Representatives: Conservation Officers matter less than State Troopers

OUR OPINION: Indiana’s Conservation Officers deserve a 6% pay raise and wage parity with the Indiana State Police.

Indiana’s men and women in green are angry and I can’t blame them. They are angry because a major injustice is about to take place in the ornate halls of our state capital and members of the Indiana House of Representatives are to blame.

Hidden away in House Bill 1001, Indiana’s Biennial Budget, is a provision that gives Indiana State Police (ISP) troopers a six-percent raise while only giving Indiana Conservation Officers (and also State Excise Police) a three percent raise. The bill also breaks the wage parity among the police agencies.
In essence, the Indiana House is saying that ISP troopers are twice as valuable as Indiana Conservation Officers (ICOs).

READ MORE AT……

http://wildindiana.com/conservation-officers-matter-less/

AND CONTACT YOUR STATE REPS TODAY…

 

[T.Lex]

I think that's a dog whistle.

The "twice as valuable" thing is really kinda offensive, when that's not at all what the legislation is saying. Numbers-wise, if there's been wage parity until now, the legislature is saying COs are worth about 3% less, this year, than ISP.

Granted, I'm not sure ISP is worth a 6% increase, but maybe. I don't know. I'm also not sure it makes sense for COs, ISP and apparently Excise to have a wage parity. Those jobs are all fundamentally different.

 

[Tactically Fat]

I think that ALL State-level LEO should be on the same wage scale - No matter the actual agency.

ISP, ICOs, Excise, Gaming, etc etc.

1 pay scale for all of them. But I suspect that's too easy.

If anything, however, I'd almost want the ICOs to be on a higher pay scale due to the overall higher levels of training they have in all the water/ice/ropes etc rescue stuff.

 

[AGarbers]

I think that ALL State-level LEO should be on the same wage scale - No matter the actual agency.

ISP, ICOs, Excise, Gaming, etc etc.

1 pay scale for all of them. But I suspect that's too easy.

If anything, however, I'd almost want the ICOs to be on a higher pay scale due to the overall higher levels of training they have in all the water/ice/ropes etc rescue stuff.

I have to agree. I say keep the matrix the same. If not, I say give the nod to the ICOs.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

A 3% raise sounds pretty good to me (compared to what I did get this year). But if I new my peer got a bigger raise than I did and our jobs were equivalent...yeah, I'd be more than a bit miffed.

 

[KellyinAvon]

There were years the military received larger cost of living increases than did the civil service. Did our cost of living increase more? No. The military pay tables were adjusted several years back after years of the same cost of living percentage increases skewed the heck out of everything. Recruiting and retention comes into play with LEOs as with GIs.

Pay and worth are two very different things. A Lt Col (O5) makes (or at least used to) double the base pay of a MSgt (E7). You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would say a Lt Col is worth twice as much as a MSgt.

 

[Bfish]

I think that ALL State-level LEO should be on the same wage scale - No matter the actual agency.

ISP, ICOs, Excise, Gaming, etc etc.

1 pay scale for all of them. But I suspect that's too easy.

If anything, however, I'd almost want the ICOs to be on a higher pay scale due to the overall higher levels of training they have in all the water/ice/ropes etc rescue stuff.

For the most part I fall inline with this. At the very least, keep them the same.

 

[Willie]

Several members wanted to know how to contact their reps..


CONTACT YOUR STATE REPS TODAY…

Please find and contact your legislators TODAY at…

http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2014/legislators/

http://www.in.gov/core/democracy.htm


Contact the Governor at….

http://www.in.gov/gov/

 

[JettaKnight]

When did we go socialist?

Let capitalism sort it out.



Not know anything about either organizations, I know in my own career there was times when employer A paid less than employer B, but was a far better job.

 

[amboy49]

..

 

[amboy49]

Sorry, I just don't see the parity between the two agencies. CO's have way of trying to insert themselves in areas normally thought of as more general law enforcement, but I don't see their standard job descriptions being the same. Where is it written that every level of Indiana law enforcement should receive the same pay ?

Partial list of State of Indiana Law Enforcement Agencies:

Office of Inspector General
Excise Police
Fire Marshal's Office
Capitol Police
State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
Indiana Gaming Commision
AG Medicaid Fraud Unit
Securities Enforcement Division
Dept of Natural Resources
State Police

All of these deserve the same pay ? I don't quite see it. Might be nice to know whether current CO pay is on par with other state's CO's that perform similar duties. Unless the job descriptions AND duties are EXACTLY the same for CO and State Trooper ( assume road deputy not detective or other specialty) where is the logic in the premise they should both get the same per centage raise. Are the state trooper wages sub par in the market place compared to CO pay ? Not enough info to just make a statement carte blanche.

 

[Indy317]

While state LE jobs are different, I would say that ISP and COs likely are the two state agencies that have a similar job at the lower levels. These two should likely be equal in terms of pay and benefits. There likely should be another pay matrix for the other agencies as I'm not so sure they do much traffic and/or responding to calls as I think ISP and COs do. If these other agencies are on the same level they should get paid the same. Either way, ISP has seen many troopers leave over the last few years. I know one personally who went into the private sector. It is very hard to constantly work with other LEOs who are clearing $60-$80K plus with OT and be happy maybe clearing mid-$50Ks. LE is having a hard time anyway. Cost of living continues to rise and only metro area PDs have been able to keep LE wages somewhat reasonable. Smaller agencies likely won't be able to keep most of the good officers unless those officers have trust funds or a spouse making good money.

 

[Tactically Fat]

I still think that all sworn State-level LEO should be on the same pay scale.

That's the way it is with non-LEO state employees. A Biologist 2 with the DNR earns the same base rate as a Biologist 2 with IDEM. However, time in service will mean that actual pay rates are different. A Biologist 2 with DNR who has 10 years of service will be earning more than an IDEM Biologist 2 who only has 2 years of service.

 

[DWS]

I can see a CO and Trooper being on the same pay scale starting out. I could even entertain the idea of a Capital Police Officer (a division of the state police) being included in this same pay metric. I CANNOT fathom how it could be justified that either of the three could be considered on the same level (pay wise) as any of the others listed in the partial list supplied by amboy49 above. However - I could be swayed by adding the vehicle enforcement / motor carrier crew. They should be armed regardless as a large portion of their job could be considered comparable to that of a trooper in regards to vehicle enforcement - but then their training should be increased as well.

This industry is a Pay to Play game. You pay me and I'll play. Its insulting to think that a Trooper or CO should be paid the same given their duties as compared to that of the AG Medicaid Fraud Unit for instance within the same state. Indiana Troopers are vastly under paid compared to their counter parts in neighboring states and several departments right here in Indiana.

Lets Look at the numbers:

CONSERVATION OFFICERS:

According to the Indiana State Personnel Department, the entry-level fish and game warden salary in Indiana was $36,852 in 2013, although this is actually the trainee salary. Once training has been completed, there is a probationary period, and the salary during this time is $38,444. Conservation Officers, as they are referred to in Indiana, are employed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Below is a look at how their salary and rank are structured as reported by the Indiana State Personnel Department in 2013:

Conservation Officer
Minimum: $40,100
Midpoint: $50,054
Maximum: $60,008

Conservation Sergeant
Minimum: $49,000
Midpoint: $57,750
Maximum: $66,500

Conservation Lieutenant
Minimum: $54,998
Midpoint: $63,249
Maximum: $71,500

Conservation Major
Minimum: $59,998
Midpoint: $68,999
Maximum: $78,000

Conservation Colonel
Minimum: $66,999
Midpoint: $75,500
Maximum: $84,001

In comparison - In 2012, the BLS reported that conservation officers in Georgia had the lowest average salary, $33,720 per year. In South Dakota, the average annual salary was $37,190, and in North Carolina, it was $39,970. Conservation officers in Montana averaged $41,390 per year, and they earned a mean annual salary of $42,710.

STATE TROOPER:

The starting salary for an Indiana State Police probationary trooper is $38,440. The pay grows to $60,000 after 20 years' service.

Trooper Trainee
Annual: $37,590
Biweekly: $1445,75
Probationary Trooper
Annual: $39,213
Biweekly: $1508.18
Trooper
Annual	$40,902	$41,955	$43,008	$44,063	$45,747	$46,765	$47,275	$48,346	$49,417	$50,489	$51,560	$52,632	$53,703	$54,772	$55,843	$56,915	$57,986	$59,057	$60,129	$61,208
Biweekly	$1,573.15	$1,613.64	$1,654.14	$1,694.73	$1,759.50	$1,798.67	$1,818.26	$1,859.46	$1,900.67	$1,941.88	$1,983.09	$2,024.30	$2,065.50	$2,106.61	$2,147.82	$2,189.03	$2,230.23	$2,271.44	$2,312.65	$2,354.16
Corporal
Annual	$43,859	$45,898	$47,938	$49,468	$50,489	$51,510	$52,528	$53,549	$54,568	$55,589	$56,610	$57,628	$58,649	$59,670	$60,688	$61,709	$62,728	$63,749	$64,770
Biweekly	$1,686.88	$1,765.32	$1,843.76	$1,902.61	$1,941.88	$1,981.15	$2,020.32	$2,059.59	$2,098.76	$2,138.03	$2,177.30	$2,216.46	$2,255.73	$2,295.00	$2,334.17	$2,373.44	$2,412.61	$2,451.88	$2,491.15
Sergeant
Annual	$49,980	$52,528	$55,079	$57,628	$59,670	$60,688	$61,709	$62,219	$62,728	$63,240	$63,749	$64,258	$64,770	$65,279	$65,788	$66,300	$66,809	$67,318	$67,830
Biweekly	$1,922.30	$2,020.32	$2,118.44	$2,216.46	$2,295.00	$2,334.17	$2,373.44	$2,393.03	$2,412.61	$2,432.30	$2,451.88	$2,471.46	$2,491.15	$2,510.73	$2,530.32	$2,550.00	$2,569.59	$2,589.17	$2,608.86
First Sergeant
Annual	$53,040	$56,098	$58,140	$60,179	$62,219	$63,240	$64,258	$64,770	$65,279	$65,788	$66,300	$66,809	$67,318	$67,828	$68,339	$68,849	$69,358	$69,870	$70,381
Biweekly	$2,040.00	$2,157.61	$2,236.15	$2,314.59	$2,393.03	$2,432.30	$2,471.46	$2,491.15	$2,510.73	$2,530.32	$2,550.00	$2,569.59	$2,589.17	$2,608.76	$2,628.44	$2,648.03	$2,667.61	$2,687.30	$2,706.98
Lieutenant
Annual	$56,098	$58,649	$60,688	$62,728	$64,770	$65,788	$66,809	$67,318	$67,828	$68,339	$68,849	$69,358	$69,870	$70,379	$70,888	$71,400	$71,909	$72,418	$72,930
Biweekly	$2,157.61	$2,255.73	$2,334.17	$2,412.61	$2,491.15	$2,530.32	$2,569.59	$2,589.17	$2,608.76	$2,628.44	$2,648.03	$2,667.61	$2,687.30	$2,706.88	$2,726.46	$2,746.15	$2,765.73	$2,785.32	$2,805.00
Captain
Annual	$58,140	$60,688	$62,728	$64,770	$66,809	$67,828	$68,849	$69,358	$69,870	$70,379	$70,888	$71,400	$71,909	$72,673	$73,439	$74,203	$74,969	$75,733	$76,500
Biweekly	$2,236.15	$2,334.17	$2,412.61	$2,491.15	$2,569.59	$2,608.76	$2,648.03	$2,667.61	$2,687.30	$2,706.88	$2,726.46	$2,746.15	$2,765.73	$2,795.11	$2,824.59	$2,853.96	$2,883.44	$2,912.82	$2,942.30
Major
Annual	$61,198	$63,749	$65,788	$67,828	$69,870	$70,888	$71,909	$72,930	$73,948	$74,969	$75,479	$75,988	$76,500	$77,009	$77,518	$78,030	$78,539	$79,048	$79,560
Biweekly	$2,353.76	$2,451.88	$2,530.32	$2,608.76	$2,687.30	$2,726.46	$2,765.73	$2,805.00	$2,844.17	$2,883.44	$2,903.03	$2,922.61	$2,942.30	$2,961.88	$2,981.46	$3,001.15	$3,020.73	$3,040.32	$3,060.00
Lieutenant Colonel
Annual	$68,339	$71,400	$73,439	$77,110	$77,773	$78,897	$80,069	$80,886	$81,854	$81,904	$82,008	$82,109	$82,618	$83,130	$83,639	$84,148	$84,660	$85,169	$85,681
Biweekly	$2,628.44	$2,746.15	$2,824.59	$2,965.76	$2,991.26	$3,034.50	$3,079.59	$3,111.00	$3,148.23	$3,150.17	$3,154.15	$3,158.03	$3,177.61	$3,197.30	$3,216.88	$3,236.46	$3,256.15	$3,275.73	$3,295.42
Colonel
Annual	$75,479	$78,030	$80,069	$84,148	$84,811	$85,832	$86,853	$87,718	$88,993	$89,097	$89,197	$89,301	$89,351	$89,452	$89,555	$89,656	$89,760	$90,269	$90,781
Biweekly	$2,903.03	$3,001.15	$3,079.59	$3,236.46	$3,261.96	$3,301.23	$3,340.50	$3,373.76	$3,422.82	$3,426.80	$3,430.67	$3,434.65	$3,436.59	$3,440.46	$3,444.44	$3,448.32	$3,452.30	$3,471.88	$3,491.57

Comparison would be that of a probationary officer in the Auburn Police Department earns just above $42,600, according to the city’s salary ordinance, and a regular officer is paid a little more than $45,000. A Fort Wayne patrol officer earns a little more than $44,000 in the probationary year and $49,000 after completing the first year, according to that department’s website and The Associated Press reported that an Indianapolis police officer earns nearly $63,000 after three years. That exceeds the top of the scale at $60,000 for a 20-year state trooper.

You also have to factor in such perks as take home vehicles, use of said vehicles within state borders, etc. Hell - I'm a Special Deputy / Humane Law Enforcement Deputy and clear just shy of 10K less than a 20 year Trooper. Obviously the county I work for is, for the most part, very effluent communities and the tax dollars are there to support that. Not to lessen the importance of my job and the vast array of duties that I have that are considered dangerous - considering I can be on the same front lines with any of the other deputies at any given time but..... Damn....

 

[JettaKnight]

Silly me.

I thought the best way was based on supply & demand, skill required, risk, how well you do your job...


Now I realize it all based on a Excel table.

 

[tenring]

Go here and find out who makes how much. Transparency: State Employees

 

[Willie]

The bill has been amended to make them both equal.