SF, Police Officers Association Reach Tentative Deal for 14% Pay Raise

Outside SFPD headquarters at 1245 Third St., the department's chronic staffing struggles have long been visible in stretched patrol schedules and an officer corps that keeps shrinking. A tentative contract announced March 19 aims to change that math: a 14% pay raise over four years, plus a one-time 3% retention bonus for officers who have logged at least five years on the force.

The deal, reached between the City and County of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Officers Association after negotiations that began in January and included mediation, was unanimously approved by the SFPOA Board of Directors. Rank-and-file officers have until April 1 to vote on ratification, after which the agreement still requires sign-off from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

SFPOA President Louis Wong framed the package as fiscally grounded despite the city's fiscal pressures. "This agreement is a balanced one," Wong said in a press release. "It provides meaningful improvements that recognize the dedication, sacrifice, and professionalism of our officers, while also being fiscally responsible at a time when San Francisco is facing a significant budget deficit."

That deficit stands at a projected $877 million over two years, a figure that sharpens questions about how City Hall funds police raises while preserving other programs. The raise, averaging roughly 3.5% annually, comes as SFPD recruits start at $119,262 per year on their first day at the police academy, according to department figures.

Sam Singer, spokesman for the SFPOA, said the contract aligns with both the union's goals and the city's bottom line. "What's important about this contract is that it honors the officers who are working for the San Francisco Police Department," Singer said. "It shows the respect and the amount of time they put in. And the dedication they have to their jobs. It's also within line of the Mayor's and the city's budget for the coming year."

Singer also pointed to Mayor Daniel Lurie's emphasis on public safety as context for the agreement, noting that Lurie's prioritization of the issue "has bolstered the ranks of the San Francisco Police Department."

The retention bonus targets experienced officers specifically, offering a 3% one-time payment to those with at least five years of service. Union leaders described it as both a reward for veteran officers and a recruitment signal to prospective hires weighing San Francisco against other Bay Area departments.

Whether the Board of Supervisors schedules a vote before or after the April 1 rank-and-file deadline remains unclear, as does the total fiscal cost of the wage package to the city. The exact year-by-year schedule of increases and the mechanics of the retention bonus payment have not been publicly released.