For now, Tiller excluded from pay hike

For now, at least, the Seneca policeman involved in the shooting death of an unarmed suspect won’t share in a pay raise that is making its way through the channels at City Hall. Chief of Police John Covington issued this statement this afternoon. “There has been a lot of recent media attention about the proposed pay raises for our officers here at the police department.  The budget request currently includes a 5 thousand dollar a year increase for all commissioned officers which narrowly passed with a 5 to 4 margin on first reading.  There has been much discussion and debate on the issue which is still being evaluated by city leaders.  There will be a council work session, public hearing and final reading of the budget before anything becomes final.  I requested this increase for all commissioned officers of department to remain competitive with surrounding agency pay in order to attract and retain the best qualified officers for our city.  For clarification, currently Lt. Mark Tiller remains on paid administrative leave and a federal investigation is still ongoing.  Any raise for active officers that may be approved in the new budget will not apply to Lt. Tiller until such a time he may be cleared at the federal level and fully reinstated to return to active duty.”