New Contract to Make 1st Year HPD Officers Highest Paid in Texas | Houston Police

Mayor John Whitmire joined the Houston Police Officers' Union and Police Chief J. Noe Diaz to announce details of a tentative five-year contract with the Houston Police Officers Union. This contract includes increased starting officers' salaries, a pay raise for experienced officers, and significant investments in the Houston Police Department's recruitment and retention strategies.

The transformative agreement recognizes the hard work and sacrifice of police officers and makes HPD more competitive with police departments across the state.

The contract includes salary increases (36.5% over 5 years):
July 2025 – 10% Increase
July 2026 – 8% Increase
July 2027 – 6% Increase
July 2028 – 6% Increase
July 2029 – 6.5% Increase

On July 1, 2025, first-year officers will make $81,600 (with a shift and weekend differential). Mayor Whitmire said this will make them the highest paid in the state.

"This is going to improve public safety. In any job, morale matters, particularly when putting your life on the line," said Mayor Whitmire. "We all have the same goal to thank our rank-and-file police officers who go to work every day and have been underpaid and underappreciated by the city for many years. This is a huge step of showing our appreciation to them for putting their lives on the line to protect and serve Houstonians."

"They (officers) go out there daily and do the job. It is truly a calling for most of us, and I want to applaud them because, without them and their hard work, we would not be here today," said HPOU President Doug Griffith. "The citizens of Houston have truly stepped up and supported this organization better than any city in this state, and we're blessed to be here."

"This contract is generational and life-changing for our police officers and cadets joining us. It recognizes the men and women at the Houston Police Department are charged with protecting the fourth largest city in the nation and pays them accordingly," said Police Chief J. Noe Diaz. "It will help us recruit new officers and retain the ones who have already dedicated themselves to this city, its residents, and our profession. If you are considering a career in law enforcement, have a heart for public service, and care about your community, please consider HPD. There is no other job so fulfilling."

Negotiating teams for the city and HPOU met for several months to reach an agreement. The police officers' union represents 5,200 officers, and its membership starts voting on Monday, May 5. Once approved, the contract will be presented to Houston City Council.

"This is a monumental generational contract for our police department," said said HPD Executive Chief Thomas Hardin. "Our compensation package for our younger officers has been choking our ability to recruit and retain. We have people who leave routinely to go to other departments when they have five years or less with HPD. Because of this contract, and thanks to the mayor and his team and our support from the City Council and the citizens of Houston, we will change that. We deserve to be paid like the fourth largest city in the country and the fifth largest police department."

If you are interested in joining HPD, you can find more info at www.HPDCareer.com.

Police Chief Noe Diaz offers a Spanish translation at 14:21.

Produced by:
Houston Police Department
Office of Community Affairs
http://www.houstonpolice.org

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