Crime

Overtime Pay Drives Some Police Officer Salaries to Over $300,000 a Year

Published

9 years ago

March 3, 2018

Highest paid officer earned $157,000 in overtime, bringing salary to $463,000

Despite promises to reduce costs, Oakland Police Department overtime is projected to cost the city nearly $30 million this year, $17.5 million or 58 percent more than the city’s budget allows.

In a staff report that went to council committees this week, city staff argues contradictorily that the police department is taking steps to rein in excessive overtime and also that there is not much that can be done about costs if the city wishes to maintain police services and fulfill its legal and contractual obligations.

“The key drivers of overtime expenditures … are service levels, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) requirements and legal mandates… Proposed strategies are likely insufficient to reduce overtime spending to budgeted levels,” the report said.

However, a look at police overtime in 2016, the most recent year available, reveals that the city paid out significant amounts of overtime inflating a number of officers’ salaries.
According to the website Transparent California, 18 officers earned over $300,000 annual salary, based on regular salary, benefits and more than $100,000 in overtime.

The highest paid officer, Malcolm Miller, received $111,932.77 regular pay. His overtime reached $156,667.61, bringing his total pay and benefits to $463,215.04.

Officer Huy Nguyen earned $112,455.80 regular pay plus $183,568.88 in overtime. His total salary and benefits came to $391,766.13
Lt. (now Captain) Roland Holmgren earned a total of $385,172.51, including $145,186 regular pay and $106,552.61 overtime.
Lt. Chris Mufarreh earned $384,507.55, including $150,665.43 regular pay and $122,993.67 in overtime.

Sgt. Fredrick William Shavies earned $381,530.21, which included $127,935.72 regular pay and $122.457.34 overtime.
A chart in the report shows that the only time the cost of overtime decreased in last 10 years was during the administration of Mayor Ron Dellums in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, when the cost of overtime declined by nearly 50 percent and came in close to budget.

A present, OPD has 792 budgeted positions and 50 sworn officer vacancies. The projected saving from the vacancies – $9 million – could be utilized to offset some overtime costs.
OPD has a total of 285 officers assigned to patrol, including 240 officers assigned to 35 patrol beats providing 24 hours-a-day coverage.

While the report may suggest nothing much can be done about overtime, the reality is that the city can modify the contract police union when a new agreement is negotiated next year, said Rashidah Grinage of the Coalition for Police Accountability.

“If it’s in their contract, the contract can be changed. Otherwise, you’re locked in,” she said.

“The city has the power to make changes, but they just keep buckling,” she said. “It’s a pretty different posture than they have with city workers in SEIU.”

The overtime issue raises many questions, Grinage continued.

Why doesn’t the city adopt a budget that reflects real overtime costs?

Why doesn’t the city administration monitor overtime expenses and make sure OPD stays within budget?

Which officers receive the lion share of overtime perks?

Where do the funds come from to cover these unbudgeted expenses?

During the Dellums administration, the cost of overtime was drastically reduced.

Dellums and his police chief, Wayne Tucker – who were both older and near the end of their careers – were willing to take on the powerful police union. They took the OPOA to arbitration and won cost-saving changes in the way officers were scheduled for duty.

“They could do the right thing, so they stood up to the union without fearing for their careers. Grinage said. “They were interested in making a difference, and they did.”

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Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

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3 days ago

October 4, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026

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1 week ago

September 27, 2026

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Community

Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins’s Bill Would Pause Law Enforcement’s Use of Shock Gloves Pending Study

The device at the center of the debate is known as the G.L.O.V.E., an acronym for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 pairs of the gloves, which are designed to deliver an electric shock through an officer’s hand.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 22, 2026

Post News Group

Asm. Dr. LaShae-Sharp Collins (D-San Diego). File photos by Antonio Ray Harvey. April, 29 2025.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

A bill temporarily prohibiting law enforcement agencies from using electric shock gloves in California is awaiting action by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2760, authored by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), passed the Senate 29-9 on Aug. 31. The Assembly concurred in Senate amendments the same day on a 55-16 vote.

The bill would prohibit state, local and federal law enforcement agencies from using wearable electroshock devices in California until Jan. 1, 2030. It would also bar agencies from using state funds to purchase the devices and require them to update their use-of-force policies accordingly.

Traditional handheld devices, including tasers and stun guns, are exempt.

Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action, it will become law without his signature.

Sharp-Collins introduced the measure after reviewing information indicating that the devices could cause serious injury or death if used without adequate safeguards and training.

“AB 2760 draws a line that public safety technology must be proven safe and accountable before it is employed. Not after someone is killed or injured,” said Sharp-Collins, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).

“Our commitment is to protect our communities, especially the most vulnerable. That is what AB 2760 is about and that is what AB 2760 will do,” Sharp-Collins told her colleagues.

During the Assembly debate, Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton), also a CLBC member, thanked law enforcement representatives for helping negotiate amendments to the bill.

“This is something new to us (and) it’s something that absolutely should be studied,” Ransom said. “I appreciate law enforcement for agreeing to work with the legislature to figure out if this is an appropriate tool to be used.”

Neither the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department nor the Los Angeles Police Department has reported using electric shock gloves. However, the Santa Monica and El Monte police departments have obtained devices for testing.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office purchased 10 shock gloves as part of a $35,000 acquisition that also included 10 remotely activated shock bands. Sheriff’s officials had been developing training and policies for the devices before AB 2760 advanced.

State Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) opposed the legislation, arguing that it would unnecessarily force agencies to change their use-of-force policies and could compromise public safety.

“I don’t disagree with the author that the electric shocks are not a great option, but at the end of the day, I think it’s important to understand that we need to give law enforcement the tools they need to keep themselves safe and the community safe,” Strickland said.

Supporters countered that wearable electroshock devices have not been sufficiently studied and could pose particular risks to immigrants, children, older adults and other vulnerable groups.

“People who are Black or Brown could be test subjects for these gloves of torment,” Mark González (D-Los Angeles) said. “I appreciate law enforcement for agreeing to work with the legislature.”