NEW YORK – Hundreds of NYPD sergeants gathered to demand fair pay, protesting a wage disparity that leaves many sergeants earning less than the officers they supervise, the New York Post reported.
More than 200 members of the Sergeants Benevolent Association rallied outside the Apollo Theatre in freezing temperatures as Mayor Eric Adams delivered his State of the City address, according to the report. Protesters voiced frustration over stalled contract negotiations and what they described as an economic injustice.
“I’m a single mom with four kids. I have a kid in college, and I cannot supervise all these officers making more money than me — and I have to be responsible for making all the decisions,” NYPD Sergeant Yahaira Lopez-Gonzalez said.
Fellow Sergeant Tiffany Howell echoed the sentiment.
“We’ve been patient, but patience doesn’t pay the bills. We have cops making more money than the ones who are supervising,” Howell said.
Mayor Adams Asks New Yorkers to Trust Him (his words) That The City Will Settle the Contract With the SBA
— Sergeants Benevolent Association (@sbanypd) January 10, 2025
"We've heard this pledge before so all the Mayor needs to do is put pen to paper, fix this economic injustice for 1,200 of our dedicated Sergeants and we will be happy to… pic.twitter.com/VCUC1fD1PL
According to SBA President Vincent Vallelong, about 1,200 sergeants earn less than the officers they oversee. Under the current salary structure, sergeants start at $98,000 and reach a top pay of $118,000 after five years, according to the report. Meanwhile, some rank-and-file officers are earning upwards of $115,000 annually.
Adams acknowledged the protesters during his address, pledging to resolve the issue.
“We are going to settle a contract with the SBA. Trust me, we will,” Adams said.
Vallelong, however, expressed skepticism, citing allegedly unfulfilled promises.
“We’ve heard this pledge before. So, all the mayor needs to do is put pen to paper, fix this economic injustice for 1,200 of our dedicated sergeants, and we will be happy to send a deal back to our members,” Vallelong said.
The rally follows a five-hour meeting between the SBA and the city’s Office of Labor Relations in December, which failed to produce an agreement, according to the report. The meeting was granted only after the SBA requested a state mediator.
