Stockton cop earns nearly a quarter million dollars

[The Straight Story]

Stockton cop earns nearly a quarter million dollars

STOCKTON, CA - A Stockton police sergeant earned nearly a quarter million dollars in 2009, placing fourth among city employees on a newly-released salary list.

Sgt. Jan Goodnight's base salary was actually less than $100,000, but after earning overtime of more than $100,000 , her total gross income was higher than $222,000.

"That's certainly a lot of money. I'm more surprised at the time she'd need to accumulate that. The amount of time she put in is pretty amazing," said Stockton police spokesman Pete Smith.

Smith said Goodnight's overtime compensation came from state grants for various traffic enforcement operations. He also said Goodnight took assignments that other police sergeants turned down.

"She gave up a lot of free time in days off to come back and work overtime," said Smith.

The salary list of city of Stockton employees included 434 people earning more than $100,000 in 2009. The structure of government salaries earned plenty of criticism among shoppers at Stockton's Lincoln Center.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=78770&catid=2

[DrDan]

1. that is a huge salary for a police sergeant

[tammywammy]

2. It's a lot of OT. n/t

[avaistheone1]

3. I think this kind of pay for a police sargent's pay is outrageous and one of the reasons California

is going bankrupt.

[tammywammy]

6. It's OT pay that increased her salary

Should she not be paid for working OT? She earned $103,285.59 in OT.

[avaistheone1]

8. What quality of work are you gettting from someone who racks up

another $125,000 in overtime for traffic enforcement?

What a joke!!! I wish these people would stop raping the taxpayers.

[tammywammy]

11. Sounds like the city needs to implement a limit on number of hours then

The article says she was willing to do assignments that other sergeants turned down. Or the city should hire additional workers.

I don't feel the need to blame this officer, she worked the hours she deserves the pay.

[avaistheone1]

24. It's a systemic problem.

The system is the problem. However the officer is happy to feed off it without complaint, so she is a part of the problem too.

[tammywammy]

30. I'm happy to work OT at my job too

:shrug:

If I need to work extra to help out everyone get everything done then that's what happens. I also get paid every min OT too.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

31. So, you'd turn down work offered to you to improve the system.....

...over helping your family?

[avaistheone1]

40. Improve the system?

Now that is putting lipstick on a pig. Thanks for a good laugh though.

And remember many California families are suffering because of these kinds of pay abuses, including our schools.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

41. And thanks for the non-answer to my question (n/m)

[avaistheone1]

50. Yes, I would.

The world is bigger than my family. If I am greedy and operate like this person does... then I poison the system for everyone including my own family - like what is happening in California today. Great! now I have poisoned the very well from which my family and other families drink. Those people who think they are entitled to their big greedy pay days are finding out their ability to continue to draw on the system is jeopardized by their very own activity. Unfortunately they also drag down other honest public employees who don't game the system. The state can't afford to maintain the honest folks as a result of the greed of the others. Meanwhile schools and other public services are being cut back and closed so the greedy folks can continue to get their dough.

I don't see any reason for the greed. Cops make plenty of money, particularly a sargent who has been on their job a number of years, and they have a very, very generous benefit package. Stop the greed. It is killing the system and our families.

I hope that answers your question.

[dionysus]

60. ROFL.. now i have seen it all... working hard and putting in OT is "greedy". seriously, you're so

jealous of this person it's hillarious.

[RaleighNCDUer]

64. Seeing as how that extra $125k could put two more officers on the force

who might be needed to back her up at some point, I think it is short-sighted and greedy.

If she wants to pull in extra pay she can do security work for nightclubs - and get $50/hr doing it. She doesn't need to drain the public treasury doing work that a new officer could do for less pay.

[tammywammy]

72. But it's not up to her to decide if they hire or not

The city should have monitored how much OT was being used and then hired to fulfill the actual need. The police officer doesn't have control over if they hire more or do layoffs. The OT was there and she took it.

[Zenlitened]

75. Agreed. Also agree with your post #11.

eta:

The city should have monitored how much OT was being used and then hired to fulfill the actual need.

:thumbsup:

[dionysus]

43. god forbid someone work overtime. jealous much?

[Obamanaut]

48. I sometimes wonder what quality of work is an employer getting

from people sitting in their cubicle posting on internet boards.

For this Sgt., if the OT was available and the coworkers didn't want to grab them up, well then, good for her.

[lumberjack_jeff]

56. If she made 100,000 in overtime, the city should hire another cop.

Overtime is supposed to be punishment to the employer for overworking employees.

[tammywammy]

68. Agreed n/t

[bitchkitty]

20. That is bullshit.

This woman is not a traffic cop, she's a sergeant, and no doubt worked hard for that title. Not only that, over half of her impressive earnings were from working overtime.

California needs MORE public servants like her - then maybe they wouldn't be in trouble.

[avaistheone1]

37. I don't care if her title is "Queen".

She made her overtime bucks off traffic enforcement. Nothing highly skilled about that. This is a rip off of the taxpayer pure and simple.

Besides, how many people do you know who are effective at their jobs when they work 16 hours a day (if she even worked that many hours)? This scheme is just asking for trouble.

The problem in California is that there are certain public employees who are scheming the system to create these huge paydays for themselves - many times just to inflate their pensions - which means Californians not only have to pay these inflated wages today but into perpetuity in their pensions. What California needs to do is pull the plug on these kinds of schemes PRONTO.

[dionysus]

44. you're jealous a cop made a lot of money. pure and simple.

[Codeine]

71. +1

No doubt about it. The only reason this article made it to DU is because the job this woman does.

[Obamanaut]

74. +2 nt

[demosincebirth]

22. forty percent of our city's budget is for law enforcement.

[avaistheone1]

34. Sounds like the federal budget.

Something is wrong on Main Street if that is the case in our communities.

[demosincebirth]

46. Much of that is OT

[Lance_Boyle]

4. Sleep deprived and armed - way to treat yer cops, Stockton.

Can they not limit overtime in Stockton? Or did someone just screw up royally to let this happen? And is there any way that a cop putting in 70-80 hour weeks is *not* spread a little too thin?

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. Bullshit!

I would bet money that her hours have been padded. It is inconceivable that a sargeant would have enough hours in the day to get paid that much money. I would think that a more thorough examination of this issue is warranted.

[joeybee12]

7. I have to agree...we're talking 70 hour work weeks pretty much

all year. Padding happens in all jobs I would bet.

[avaistheone1]

32. Sock it to the taxpayers

for a worn out cop who can't function on the job.

[avaistheone1]

17. I think that overtime pay should be rebated to the taxpayers.

Are we do believe that anyone could work that many hours and truly be on top off their job, especially protecting and serving the public? Don't think so. I thought part of the reason we have all these federal labor laws regarding how many hours can be worked is the idea that a human being can only be productive for so many work hours.

I think there was a great deal of padding going on, or these overtime project were nothing short of boondoggles.

[Obamanaut]

9. Even in a thread about cop pay there is wealth envy evident. Is

it because (in this case) a person is willing to work many hours overtime to make more than we do?

I say "Good for you, Sgt!"

ETA For those who suspect padding, perhaps it is something they are familiar with themselves.

[Romulox]

12. Um..."wealth envy"? You don't happen to go to a church where a "prosperity gospel" is preached, do

you?

Afraid a little "class war" may break out? :rofl:

[Obamanaut]

36. No church at all for me. And when I park my Mercury Sable next to

a Lexus at the gym, it doesn't generate a feeling of rage because it's a nicer car than mine, and I don't spend hours wondering if they are paying their "fair share" of anything.

[Romulox]

51. Your gym membership is irrelevant to a discussion of the pay of putative "public servants"

Interesting that deflection was your first move.

[Obamanaut]

59. OK. When I park ANYWHERE next to a vehicle finer than mine,

or go by a nicer house with a manicured lawn, it doesn't cause me any stress at all. I enjoy looking at these other things, but the stuff I have makes me happy. I do not begrudge anyone the stuff they have, but many do. This is obvious, even in this thread.

OT pay was available, the Sgt took advantage of it, she reaped the rewards for her long hours, her coworkers passed on the opportunity.

I don't consider law enforcement personnel public 'servants.' They are employees who, from time to time, get shot at or must wrestle drunks to the ground, etc. They are worth every cent they are paid. For those who think otherwise, apply for the job and take a chance of being shot at.

BTW, the gym was mentioned as a place where I park from time to time. There is also Walmart and Starbucks, but I was reluctant to mention them.

Sometime look at the times of a series of posts. I would imagine many are made from cubicles at work. One wonders how a person can rip off his/her employer of possible productive hours and also find fault with a person who is willing to work many hours of OT.

[avaistheone1]

21. There is something fundamentally wrong with one going into public service to get wealthy.

I think they are in the wrong business if that is a person's goal.

Go to work for K&B or Halliburton and get your jollies and your wealthy there instead.

[tammywammy]

33. How do you know that's her "personal goal"?

Is there another article where she said that?

[avaistheone1]

38. Ah...

my comment was directed to post# 9, not to this particularly cop's goals.

Please recheck thread.

[Obamanaut]

35. You left congress off your list. Many are wealthy when they get there,

but feeding at the trough for multiple terms certainly does not hurt their bank balance or stock portfolio.

[dionysus]

45. no shit. how dare an evil policewoman put in a shitload of hours and make a lot of dough!

the jealousy is so evident it's hillarious.

[avaistheone1]

52. A quarter million dollars for traffic enforcement by a single person!!

Please stop the insanity. This is a complete ripoff.

[lumberjack_jeff]

61. It isn't wealth envy, it's prudent spending.

The people should expect that their dollars are being spent to provide for their needs.

$100,000 in overtime would have been better spent hiring another cop.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Just what we don't need, another fatigued cop.

Watching a contractor dig a hole for big OT bucks at the expense of public safety.

[conscious evolution]

13. No salary is to high

for those who protect and defend the status quo.

[newscott]

16. They shouldn't have to work crazy OT to earn it though.

[avaistheone1]

18. lol

[avaistheone1]

19. .

[Romulox]

14. Ticket quota $$$: "overtime compensation came from state grants for various traffic enforcement..."

"To Protect and to Serve"...

[newscott]

15. Check the list of Boston's highest paid employees

The mayor isn't even in the top 50! LOL.

[Blue Diadem]

23. I don't understand why people begrudge those who work the hours.

If she worked the hours, she's entitled to the OT pay. If other Sgt's had been willing to work it, the dollars would have been spread around.

Years ago I knew many cops who worked part-time jobs after their regular shift and on their off days. Often it was in security/loss prevention in retail establishments or banks. Since the work wasn't through the city, they were only paid straight time for those extra hours they worked.

[avaistheone1]

25. Yeah, and the cops working for retail establishments weren't

chalking up an additional $125,000 a year in overtime either.

Also, keep in mind the money that comes from grants actually is coming from the taxpayers. Ouch!

[Blue Diadem]

47. Yep those grants do come from the taxpayers.

Grants are temporary and I'm betting with the economy, they don't have one for this year. I just don't see a problem with the Sgt. getting paid since she worked the hours. If 4 other Sgt's had been willing to work the hours along with her, I doubt anyone would be complaining about their wages being $20,000 more a year.

Around here they complain when the cops retire. They get their accumulated unused sick pay, vacation pay and comp time. Recently, our newspaper showed one Lt. making $195,000. They had to explain that she was only paid $75,000, the rest was all her accumulated benefits.

Oh, my comment about cops working PT jobs elsewhere should have been directed to the posts saying that cops are too tired working all those hours.

[lumberjack_jeff]

62. If she's worked the hours, she's entitled to the OT pay.

On the other hand, if the Chief is letting her set her own schedule, he or she should get an ass kicking.

[dmallind]

26. I'm guessing she is nearing retirement

As pensions are typically based on average of last few years' pay. Working insane OT for a few years is a great way to get a nice pension for a few decades.

[avaistheone1]

28. You are absolutely right. That is what is going on in our state.

Various public employees create various schemes to create a bubble in pay in their later years in order to jack up their pensions. This bubble is creating a huge budget problem for the state of California.

We can not sustain paying salaries and budgets like this.

[asdjrocky]

27. Wow.

Looks like crime does pay after all.

[Bluenorthwest]

29. Well, Stockton is in great shape financially

just like the rest of CA.

[tularetom]

39. If you looked into it further I'd bet she's due to retire soon

This practice is known as "spiking". Since the amount of a person's retirement is based on their highest annual salary, many public employees pile on the overtime, cash out unused vacation, use car and cell phone allowances, all for the purpose of raising their final year's salary to unrealistic and unsupportable levels. And this is what's wrong with the practice. BTW, a lot of these employes actually make more after retirement than they were making as active employees.

Local and state government here in CA cannot support these outrageous retirement costs much longer. In many jurisdictions, benefits paid out to retired employees exceed salary costs for current employees. How stupid is that? One city in the bay area has already filed for bankruptcy, citing cost of retirement benefits as the reason. It's a time bomb and it's about to have a devastating effect on public services in the state.

And before you jump on me for putting down underpaid public servants, I have some basis for what I'm saying. I retired from a government agency in 2001. My final salary was just over $100k, and now after 9 years of retirement, my annual benefits are about $60,000.

[avaistheone1]

42. This is why California is going to implode

and no politician - be they Democrat or Republican wants to touch this issue with a ten foot pole. It is the elephant in the room.

[-..__...]

53. That probaly depends on state law/union contract.

In MA, any overtime isn't figured into retirement benefits... only base salary and possibly a few other paid incentives.

[GreenPartyVoter]

55. I thought of that as well.

[Blue Diadem]

57. I wasn't aware that they use that last year figure as the basis for

their retirement pay. I've been told that when they retire, they have to cash out unused comp time, vacation time and sick time which often more than doubles their normal wages. One would think that accumulated amount would be divided out over the years they've worked in figuring their retirement amount.

[tularetom]

65. Nope, they can toss it all into the last year

It's based on when they take the cash, not when they accumulate it.

Indeed it should be as you suggest unfortunately it ain't.

[-..__...]

49. Cops in MA....

can easily pull in 6 digit incomes.

With educational incentives, details and overtime, it's not at all unusual for a rookie patrolman to take in $110,000 - $115,000 a year.

A Sgt can make $125,000 - $130,000 or more.

One of the more extreme examples is a State Police Sgt. that made somewhere around 250k working overtime at Logan airport shortly after 9/11.

[Veruca Salt]

54. Could have hired two new traffic cops for that amount of OT...

and put two people back to work instead of paying out overtime.

[Blue Diadem]

58. It was paid from a grant...so it's not long term. n/t

[Xithras]

66. Not if the money really came from grants.

The article says that her overtime was spent working traffic enforcement grants. Grants are not a consistent income stream and tend to come and go from year to year. Many grants also prohibit their money from being used for "administrative" tasks (think workers comp).

It's generally a bad idea to hire people based solely on grant funding. We have a number of people here at the college who are "grant funded", and every one of them knows that their jobs are solely dependent on the funding whims of unelected bureaucrats. If their grant gets cut, they're immediately fired, and have none of the protections enjoyed by other unionized employees. Grant employees are, by definition, temporary.

[Vinca]

63. Sometimes local government is short sighted when they work up a budget.

They think they're saving money by not authorizing the replacement of workers, but the crime/fire/pot holes don't go away. They end up paying even more in overtime. Wow - a quarter of a million makes me think I should have stayed in law enforcement.:rofl:

[Taverner]

67. First question I would ask is "was it worth it?"

Was all that sleep deprivation and lack of a social life worth it?

[tammywammy]

69. That's the unknown

I have a friend that worked long hours selling cars in order to put her three sons through college. My friend would most definitely say it was worth it. We don't know the situation with this police officer.

[Canuckistanian]

70. I see no problem with this

In our world of fucked-up values, where corporate CEO's make 10's of millions, why shouldn't a cop make 200k?

A cop has MUCH more influence on MY quality of life than any CEO. Besides, a well-paid cop is less likely to be bribed, right?

[Liberal_in_LA]

73. wow n/t