Local police not affected by minimum wage laws
Published Jan. 26, 2007
Eighteen Missouri local governments are contesting the minimum wage law passed when voters approved Proposition B in the November elections.
The referendum raised the state-mandated minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.50 and demands all employees receive premium pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. The law took effect Jan. 1.
Under the previous minimum wage law, police and fire department employees could work beyond the 40-hour limit without incurring overtime. The federal wage law allowed overtime for police officers and firefighters to be figured on a pay period rather than a seven-day week.
"If this law did impact us, it would no longer allow us to have a 28-day cycle," Columbia Police Chief Randy Boehm said. "We would be forced to go to a seven-day cycle instead."
Boehm said police officers and firefighters often work odd hours that would be affected, including irregular events such as training and court appearances. He said the Columbia Police Department is not involved in the lawsuit challenging the law.
"Right now, it is the opinion of our city attorney and the human resources department that (the minimum wage law) doesn't affect us," Boehm said.
Columbia Police Officers Association President Jeff Westbrook also said the law has not affected the police department.
"This is an oversight," Westbrook said. "We're not up in arms about it."
Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Mel Fooks said the impact of the law on the agency has been minimal because the agency does not generally use overtime.
"We're looking at a couple of things, but we don't see any big issue," Fooks said.
According to a previous Maneater report, most permanent employees of the city of Columbia are paid at least $10.31 an hour, well above the minimum wage.