By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

Fenton Command Officers decided it was time to make a change in their representation after failing to reach an agreement with their Employer nearly a year past their contract expiration.

They voted unanimously to join the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) in the spring of 2025 after being with their former Union, Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM), for about a decade. Their contract had expired June 30, 2024 and, 11 months later, they were still in negotiations and looking for a Union that could deliver superior service.

“We just weren’t getting the treatment we felt we deserved,” said Cole Hopkins, Fenton Command Local Union President. “Being a smaller department, we just wanted a more professional and just a more friendly approach — someone to be a lot more personable.” 

The four-member group needed results from their Union, and from what they heard, the POLC could provide them. “We asked around to departments our size, that were in and outside of the county, and heard really good things about POLC and how they handle their smaller departments,” Hopkins said.

With the assistance of their new POLC Labor Representative Christopher Hild, they not only reached an agreement with double digit wage increases – they also were paid for the time lost during extended negotiations. Fenton Command Officers signed a new 4-year agreement at the beginning of March 2026, with wage increases retroactive to July 1, 2024.

The group gained 14 percent in wage advancements over the life of the contract, which expires June 30, 2028, with 4 percent hikes in 2024 and 2025, followed by 3.5 percent increases effective July 1, 2026 and again on July 1, 2027. “I was very happy with them,” Hopkins said of the pay increases and other advancements.

Under their new agreement, Command Officers now receive additional compensation for the time spent training Officers. The minimum number of hours they are paid for appearing in court also increased.

“If a supervisor is training someone, they get one hour of Overtime and the Court Time changed from 2 hours for in-person. Now it’s 3 hours, no matter how long you’re there,” he said.

Paid Time Off expanded under the agreement. A Compensatory Time Bank of 48 hours was established, with Employees permitted to use a maximum of 60 hours Comp Time annually. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Juneteenth were added as paid Holidays, and Employees’ Birthday was eliminated. Employees now have a minimum of 8 hours rest period between their shifts. Command Officers also received a boost in their Boot Allowance, from $250 to $300, and Dispatch Supervisors were included with a Shoe Allowance of $100 for the contract term. 

Most importantly, with POLC representation, Fenton Command Officers are experiencing something that is immeasurable – having their concerns addressed promptly.

“I just feel like the communication is a lot better. It’s very hand-in-hand and there’s no lapse in it,” Hopkins said. “If I reach out for information and need to talk to somebody, (the response) is almost right away or within the hour and it was not like that before.”

Fenton Command Officers no longer see themselves as simply a smaller unit – they recognize they are a valuable part of a labor relations organization that doesn’t treat them like a number. As such, they look forward to being part of the larger conversation at outings and events with agencies from across the state, such as the Annual POLC/GELC Labor Conference. Hopkins said their former Union did not invite them to attend these types of events.

“I just feel like POLC is more. They treat everybody equally and professionally,” he said. “They have more of a well-rounded feel.”