Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry today joined Evansville Police Chief Philip Smith and Detective Aaron McCormick, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, to announce an agreement between city officials and the FOP on a new, three-year contract.

City leaders announced the agreement at a news conference this afternoon, after the agreement was approved by FOP membership with a 99.4% “Yes” vote. It will now go to City Council for approval.

“Public safety is the primary job of city government, and our highest priority is a safe Evansville,” Mayor Terry said. “As mayor, I want to ensure not only that we take care of the officers responsible for keeping us safe, but also that we are offering wages, benefits, and other opportunities that make the Evansville Police Department competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the region and state, improving our capacity to attract and retain the best law enforcement officers.

“I believe this contract does all of those things, and I’m proud to be able to stand united alongside representatives from the EPD and the FOP with a contract that we all agree will move the City of Evansville and the EPD forward and allow us to continue collaborating with our officers to offer the best police service to residents.”

The contract, which includes the 7 percent salary increase first proposed by Mayor Terry in her 2025 budget last month, will lead to better officer recruitment, retention, and training, McCormick said in his remarks.

And it will allow the Evansville Police Department to continue expanding its community policing efforts, while also maintaining its commitment to strong enforcement practices.

“Under Mayor Terry's leadership, agency collaboration has been a key focal point,” Chief Smith said. “Units within the department are working together to bring offenders to justice. The partnership with the CGIC (Crime Gun Intelligence Center) has opened the door for gun crimes to be investigated more thoroughly by using technology. 

“At the same time, the investment made in our officers is not focused on pay alone. There has been an investment in the overall wellness of officers with the addition an on city staff mental health professional for officers to utilize and a wellness coordinator withing the agency to help officers focus on their physical well-being. And there has been an additional investment in community policing through initiatives like our new division of Park Police officers, summer activities like Movies in the Park and Pop with a Cop, and community outreach efforts like the mayor’s new Block-by-Block city-wide cleanup initiative.”

That kind of support has led to improved morale among officers, McCormick said. It also led to what he called the most cooperative relationship and bargaining process he’s seen in his time with the FOP.

“I want to thank the Chief of Police, the Mayor, and the city administration for their cooperation and communication in working throughout the negotiation process,” McCormick said. “By continuing to collaborate, we aim to ensure that our officers are well-supported, well-trained, and well-equipped to handle the complexities of modern policing, while also being mindful of the trust and partnership we have with the public.

“Mayor Terry said on the campaign trail that these things would be priorities in her administration, and we are pleased to say that she has followed through on that in full.”

It is slated to go into effect January 1, 2025, and run through December 31, 2027.