DA’s detectives get pact

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, April 18, 2001 | 10:55 a.m.

A yearlong dispute between Clark County district attorney's investigators and county administrators ended Tuesday when county commissioners approved a new four-year contract.

"We're pleased; we're happy it's done with," said Joel Moskowitz, chairman of the District Attorney's Investigators Association.

The contract grants investigators an annual 3.5 percent cost of living increase and an opportunity for annual merit increases, which countywide typically runs 2 percent to 6 percent.

Merit increases will only be granted if it does not push employees over salary ranges designated for their positions. The high-end pay for investigators' positions was upped by at least $10,000; supervisors' range increased by nearly $15,000.

The contract, negotiated by a mediation team, allowed investigators to reach their goal of making their salaries comparable to those of Metro Police detectives. District attorney's investigators, who assist with criminal investigations, claim their jobs are similar to Metro detectives.

Investigators were satisfied with the agreement but it is far from what they initially sought when negotiations began more than a year ago.

The 27-member division initially wanted the cost of living increase, a 4 percent hike to bring them within Metro's salary range, a merit increase and a clothing allowance. They also wanted to be compensated for their lunch hour or be deemed inaccessible during the hour, essentially working seven-hour days.

County officials said if all of the investigators' demands were granted with a two-year contract that included benefits, their increase would have been in the neighborhood of 40 percent annually.

"Those were the principal parts on which the agreement could not be reached," Assistant County Manager Mike Alastuey said.

The major hang-ups that resulted in the stalled talks included the increase on top of the cost of living raise, the workday request and the clothing allowance, which investigators said they needed because of wear and tear caused by weapon holsters and day-to-day operations.

"They demanded the same clothing allowance as Metro police which we felt under the circumstances was not warranted," Alastuey said. "That was not part of the settlement."