Delray Beach Public Safety Concerns
- Friends of Delray
- Jun 17
- 5 min read
The Delray Beach Police department is rapidly losing officers and is suffering the worst staffing crisis in the history of the department. The most recent resignation came from Chief Russ Mager who has served Delray Beach for twenty-two years. In a Palm Beach Post article, Vice Mayor Rob Long said, “He’s walking away because he’s been stripped of the tools and support needed to run a functioning police department.”
Sixteen officers have left the department with nineteen people processing to also leave. The officers leaving have as few as two years with the department and as many as thirteen years.
Delray’s officers are leaving to take jobs with surrounding police agencies that are offering better salaries and benefits than are being offered at Delray Beach Police Department. Some of the officers are retiring. The department has difficulty recruiting quality candidates because of the inferior (compared to surrounding agencies) pay package offered by Delray Beach.
The exodus of officers is caused by stalled contract negotiations between the city and The Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association. (PBA) The PBA is trying to get competitive salaries and benefit package to be comparable or improved compared to the other agencies competing for officers. The city is citing budget restraints.
The city has offered a $15.2 million package which would raise starting salaries which would help with recruitment. Beginning salaries would be at $72,000 with third year salaries at $80,000. Which would make Delray’s starting salaries competitive with surrounding police agencies.
The problem for the PBA is that this package leaves out the officers who have been with the Delray Police Department for many years. The proposal would shrink veteran police officers pay step increase to 4% and 3.5%, from the 5% increases that they currently have.
The department has recently lost a 10-year sergeant and a 12-year canine officer.
With diminished staffing, officers are being pulled from their specialty services and being put on road patrol. Many officers are being asked to work overtime and are simply exhausted.
Delray lost its K-9 officer and with no dog handler, they would have to outsource to another agency if one was needed. Other specialty departments may have to be outsourced as well.
In an email from Chief Mager to Terrance Moore, he speaks of the staffing shortage and wrote, “We may have to consider farming out serious criminal investigations, to include and not limited to homicides, shootings, stabbings, rapes, robberies, sexual assault etc. as well as traffic homicides to an outside agency due to lack of resources available to conduct these types of protracted investigations.”
Another sticking point in negotiations between the city and PBA is that PBA is asking for the DROP program, which is already in place for five years, now be extended to eight years. The officers would pay into the program by paying a 3% contribution for the additional three years. The DROP program simply gives the retiring officer the pension that they have earned during their career upon retirement. But instead of that officer taking their pension and either staying at home or going to work for another law enforcement agency, it keeps the officer working in Delray. Delray benefits from their experience in the department and the community and they can train younger officers as well. It does not cost the city any more than the pensions they would have to pay at retirement whether the officer left or kept working.
An actuary report was presented which analyzes this scenario indicated that the extra three years added to the DROP with officers contributing 3% would actually SAVE the city approximately $300,000 this year and save the city $6.1 million over 30 years.
If you are a citizen concerned about Delray Beach Public Safety, please consider attending city commission meetings and speak at during the public comment period.
Email your city commissioners at: Commissioners_Mayor@ci.delray-beach.fl.us
Summary: Palm Beach County PBA vs. City of Delray Beach (May 14, 2025 Hearing)
Background
This is a formal impasse hearing between the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and the City of Delray Beach regarding collective bargaining agreements for two bargaining units: Officers & Sergeants and Lieutenants. The session was held before Special Magistrate Thomas Young on May 14, 2025, at Delray Beach City Hall.Agreements Reached
The parties reached agreement on several articles across both contracts, including:
Hours of Work (Lieutenants – Article 9)
Promotion Procedures (Lieutenants – Article 33)
Take-Home Vehicles (Officers & Sergeants – Article 39)
Grievance Procedures (Articles 40 and 38)
Retiree Insurance (Articles 42 and 40)
Contract Duration (Articles 45 and 43)
Withdrawal of PBA’s proposed Off-Duty Details article
Articles at Impasse
Four key issues remain unresolved:
Article 8 – Management Rights
City wants language granting explicit authority to require psychological evaluations.
PBA agrees the right exists under federal law but opposes contractually codifying it without legal safeguards.
Article 10 – Wages
PBA proposes: Keeping 5% step increases + COLAs of 5% (Year 1), 10% (Year 2), 5% (Year 3).
City proposes: Front-loaded increases focused on entry-level pay, shrinking long-term step increases to 4% and 3.5%, which disproportionately harms veteran officers.
PBA argues this change ignores comparable agencies and fails to retain experienced staff.
Article 12 – Pensions
PBA seeks: Extension of the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) from 5 to 8 years, with a 3% employee contribution for the additional years and delayed COLA until full separation.
City refuses: Despite actuarial evidence and expert testimony that this change would save the city roughly $6.1 million over 30 years.
Drug & Alcohol Policy (Articles 29 & 27)
Disagreement over automatic drug testing following vehicle crashes.
PBA supports testing based on “reasonable suspicion” and opposes blanket testing policies.
Next Steps
Special Magistrate’s Recommendation: Magistrate Young will review evidence, testimony, and exhibits to issue non-binding recommendations for resolving the impasse.
City Commission Action: The City Commission will vote to accept or reject the recommendations. If rejected, the Commission may impose its last best offer or resume negotiations.
Potential Public Hearing: If necessary, the impasse could proceed to a legislative hearing before the Commission to determine final contract terms.
The Commission's Role
Artificial Budget Constraints Were Self-Imposed
During negotiations, the City Commission voted 3–2 to roll back the millage rate despite rising property values—effectively reducing general fund revenues. This decision was made in the midst of collective bargaining and directly undermined the City’s ability to invest in its police workforce.
Restructured Wage Proposal Undermines Experienced Officers
In response to concerns about entry-level recruitment, the City proposed a wage scale that front-loads year-one raises but reduces long-term earning potential by shrinking step increases from 5% to as low as 3.5%. This move, branded by the PBA as “Ponzi-esque,” pits junior and senior officers against one another and fails to value institutional knowledge and retention.
Refusal to Adopt DROP Extension Despite Cost Savings
The PBA’s proposal to extend the DROP program was backed by actuarial analysis showing a projected savings of $6.1 million over 30 years. This extension would also help retain experienced officers—a known challenge for Delray Beach PD.
The City declined to adopt this proposal without offering a credible counterargument, missing a clear opportunity to balance fiscal responsibility with operational stability.
Disingenuous Negotiation Tactics
The City delayed or dismissed proposals that aligned with its own stated concerns (e.g., recruitment) and shifted rationale when politically convenient. Its resistance to reasonable, data-supported compromises—like the DROP extension and delayed COLA strategies—raises concerns about good faith in bargaining.
For a Deeper Dive:
Comments