Starting policemen to receive NIS 10,000

One-time payments for new officers to improve working conditions.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
traffic cop 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
traffic cop 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Newly hired police officers and prison wardens will receive a one-time bonus of NIS 10,000, the Public Security Ministry announced on Monday, following a prolonged dispute with the Finance Ministry over low police salaries.
The bonus will be paid to officers who sign on for further service during their first years on the job. Half of the sum will be paid upon signature, and a second installment is to be received later, the Public Security Ministry said.
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Officers with the rank of superintendent will also receive a bonus of between NIS 9,000 to 11,000 after they agree to extend their service.
Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch has been waging a campaign to improve conditions for officers and wardens and has protested the minimum wage salaries paid to many of the officers.
Aharonovitch expressed satisfaction with the agreement on Monday, but added that conditions were still far from than ideal, and pledged to continue to fight for better conditions for police officers "who work around the clock, day and night... to ensure the existence of Israeli democracy."
He added, "the ministry's budget is larger than ever. I'm glad we were able to convert the slogans into real, practical backing which is so badly needed by law enforcement personnel."
Starting police officers earn NIS 4,148 a month, and cannot hope to pass the NIS 5,000 mark until he or she rises through five ranks, to become first-sergeant.
The process takes around five years to complete, and for many officers, the journey up the chain of command will end there.
A smaller number of officers will then be promoted to the rank of deputy-inspector, ensuring them a salary of NIS 8,571. Only a select few will go on to become assistant commanders, deputy commanders, lieutenant commanders, and finally commanders. The salaries of these high-ranking officers range from NIS 21,000 to NIS 41,000.