More School City

• Suspect beef called back from schools
• Measure requiring high school proficiency test awaits New Mexico governor's signature
• Albuquerque's Lenore Wolf has dedicated her life to kids

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Wage hikes for school police will be negotiated with the support of Bill Reed, the new police director, and Linda Sink, the interim superintendent for Albuquerque Public Schools.

Reed said Wednesday that his officers — 35 of them commissioned and armed — deserve raises even though they don't have the same powers as city and county law enforcement officers.

School police are paid $12.62 per hour, compared with city police who make $19 to $21 per hour. A citizens' group has recommended school police salaries be competitive with other law enforcement agencies and that school police become a full-fledged police force.

The attorney general Tuesday said state law doesn't allow a school district to have its own police force with the same powers as other law enforcement agencies. But school police still deserve better pay, district leaders said.

"I'm obviously supportive of raises for our people," Reed said.

Sink has listed wage negotiations for school police raises among her goals into 2008.

Former acting Chief Steve Tellez said he wouldn't expect parity with other law enforcement agencies and that his officers are suggesting an increase to $16 or $17 per hour.

"I don't know that we'll ever have parity with other agencies," Tellez said. "That does hurt us in recruiting officers."

School police have a budget for 42 officers but have been unable to fill seven positions.

In August, district officials projected that an additional $461,844 per year would be needed to bring the officers' wages to parity.

Albuquerque Board of Education member Robert Lucero said he is against pumping more educational dollars into the Police Department.

He said the attorney general's opinion supports his position that the district can only have a security department, not a police department.

Reed said if the school district is successful getting state law changed to allow formation of a police force, he would have access to federal grants that would offset district costs for police equipment and patrol cars.

Also, his officers would have police powers they need, such as access to the National Crime Information Center to check for warrants on suspects.

"It's disappointing," Reed said of the AG's ruling. Not being a real police department "restrains us from doing the job the best we can."