Santa Cruz is looking for a new deputy police chief, and three officers have already applied, even though the new position pays $10,000 less than the last deputy police chief earned.
Patty Sapone was earning $14,239 a month, 8 percent less than the Chief of Police Howard Skerry, but Councilmembers decided that the salary distinction was too small. Given the current deficit, they could not increase the police chief’s salary, so they decided to reduce the deputy’s salary instead, to $13,403.
Five officers in the SCPD currently have the qualifications to replace Sapone, and three have already applied. The new deputy will begin work no later than May 3. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
