Freeport City Council members have approved a three-year contract between the municipality and its police union.
The document was approved Jan. 17 and includes a retroactive raise for sworn officers, dating back to May 1, of 1.25%. There also will be 3% raises on May 1 of 2018 and 2019.
These pay hikes are meant to compensate for higher healthcare premiums. The Journal-Standard reports police will pay 18 percent of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) rate. This is compared to a previous rate of less than 10 percent.
The new contract also allows officers to live up to 25 miles from Freeport.