LINCOLN — The state is headed for another battle over adequate pay for law enforcement officers.

The union representing Nebraska State Troopers will begin bargaining with the state in September over a new labor contract. They maintain that troopers' salaries are far behind the pay for police officers and county deputies in the state.

According to authorities, the pandemic and the negative impressions of police following the in-custody death of George Floyd in 2020 have led to what some label a "crisis" in recruiting new officers. The union representing the troopers cites the lack of a new talent pool as another reason to increase pay.

Starting pay for Nebraska state troopers is $51,105 a year, or $24.57 an hour. That is about $6 an hour less than what new police officers are paid in Lincoln and Papillion and $5 an hour less than the pay for new Omaha police officers.

Altogether, at least 14 law enforcement agencies in Nebraska have higher starting pay than the State Patrol, according to the State Law Enforcement Bargaining Council.

Even state corrections officers earn higher starting salaries than state troopers: $58,240 a year.

“Our starting wage is not competitive with the labor market in Nebraska that they need to be competitive with. Not even close,” said Gary Young, the attorney for the bargaining council.

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