By JEFF LIPTON
The LBPD last week hired two sergeants who were working for the NYPD, with Karl Geiger and Bonnie Gerth being sworn in as police officers in the Long Beach city manager's office on Tuesday, April 1.
It's not unusual for members of the New York city police force to opt for the more serene beachfront in Long Beach. Since 2005, officials said, 14 of the prior 15 cops hired by the LBPD came from the NYPD, making up roughly one-fourth of the 80-member Long Beach force.
But this marked the first time in LBPD history that sergeants have made the move, taking what may be a temporary demotion.
"We've never had a sergeant come over," said Lt. Bruce Meyer of the LBPD. "Now we have not only one but two."
After some initial training in the LBPD, both officers will be ready for their new assignments by Memorial Day - just in time for the busy beach season, police officials said.
"I believe we have one of the finest police departments in the state, and we have a lot to offer," said Lt. Meyer.
The disparity in pay may also be one of the major reasons why the LBPD is the beneficiary of the thinning NYPD force. Even though Geiger, 28, and Gerth, 36, who were each earning reportedly around $71,000 in the NYPD, will be taking a pay cut of roughly 40 percent in their new deployment, they could quickly make that up. They could earn $96,000 after six years on the LBPD force, said Meyer. A sergeant could pull in about $117,000 after six years, but police officers cannot be eligible to become sergeants until they have served at least five years on the LBPD force, Meyer said. It would take an NYPD sergeant 20 years to earn a top pay of $91,000.
A starting salary for a rookie officer in the NYPD is just over $25,000, as compared with roughly $38,000 for an LBPD rookie, officials said.
In addition to better pay, the NYPD officers are also fleeing to work in the better environment of Long Beach, said Meyer.
"I'm just pleased that we could get highly qualified officers," said Meyer. "They have the experience and the training. In fact, they both made sergeant [in the NYPD] in a short period of time.
"We're so fortunate that these individuals are willing to give up something to come to Long Beach," he added. "It's the work environment and it's the pay. In the short-term, they are definitely taking a cut in pay. But after a while the salary is better over here."
In addition, Gerth lives in Suffolk County and was looking to work closer to her home, Meyer said.
Even though Meyer said "we have enough police work to do over here, a lot of quality of life issues," it's still not quite as "active" as the five boroughs.
Police Officer Geiger was a six-year veteran of the NYPD, most recently being assigned to the 104th Precinct in Queens where he served as a sergeant overseeing the Community Policing Unit, supervising the Field Training Unit, and heading the precinct's Community Conditions Unit. Prior to his assignment in the 104th Precinct, Officer Geiger was assigned to the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn, where he worked with the Burglary Apprehension Team and the Anti-Crime Task Force.
Police Officer Gerth is a five-year veteran of the NYPD, with her latest assignment as a sergeant with the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn. She was in charge of field training, supervising 25 newly-assigned officers. Prior to the 75th Precinct, Gerth was assigned for two years to Queens South, encompassing eight precincts, where she worked in an investigative capacity with the Evidence Collection Unit. Before that, she was assigned to the 105th Precinct in Queens, where, in addition to her patrol duties, she was designated the domestic violence officer.
Long Beach Police Commissioner Thomas R. Sofield, Jr. embraced the newest members of the force, stating, "Officer Geiger and Officer Gerth are welcome additions to our force. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the department, and are well equipped to serve the needs of the Long Beach community and the goals of the Long Beach Police Department."
Officers Geiger and Gerth could not be reached for comment.
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
