Seventeen of the top 20 salaries in Bristol in 2023 were earned by police officers, with a detective topping the list by far.
Bristol Detective Scott Werner earned $334,839, including a base pay of $96,787, overtime of $122,476, and private duty pay of $115,575, municipal data shows.
The town’s second highest earner was Lt. Ulric Berube, who earned $261,477 for the calendar year, with a base pay of $119,442, overtime of $47,464 and private duty pay of $94,571, data shows.
The three non-police officers on the top 20 list are Scott Smith, the town’s chief Information officer, his salary reaching $198,106 in part because of a retirement payout of $91,146, data shows.
Smith is No. 12 on the list and the other two civilians are retiring. Patricia Tomascak, executive director of the Department Aging, and Bristol’s comptroller, Diane Waldron, are Nos. 17 and 18. respectively.
Tomascak has a base salary of $121,610 and had a $69,239 retirement payout added for a total of $190,850.
Waldron earned a base pay of $188,023.
It is typical for police officers of many ranks to comprise the bulk of top 20 salary lists of municipalities. Police officers can earn such high amounts in overtime, especially these days, because of a widespread shortage of officers and minimum staffing requirements for community protection in many communities.
The private duty jobs, which have added a nice chunk to numerous police salaries are paid by utilities, construction companies and others who contract the work.
Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould said the department faced “significant challenges” and “staffing shortages” that were exacerbated following the tragic killings of Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy in October 2022.
Gould said the department was authorized for 122 officers and at one point, down about 15, so the patrol division had to be backfilled.
Gould said they have run a “robust recruiting campaign,” to address shortages and as a result, are nearing staffing goals.
He said the police officers have worked hard to earn the money they do and he’s grateful they’ve gone the extra mile to help with the staffing shortage, rather than having to order officers in to fill shifts.
As for Werner, he has unique regular duties, including that of a trainer, and so, was in a position to take the extra work, Gould said.
“Detective Werner is very capable, enjoys the job,” Gould said. “They all work hard.”
In addition to Werner, Berube, Smith, Tomascak and Waldron, the others on Bristol’s top 20 salaries list for 2023 include:
Ll. Patrick Krajewski, who who earned $253,629, with a base salary of $122,816, overtime of $91,655, private duty pay of 39,159.
Detective Robert Motel, who earned $245,684 with a base pay of $96,653, overtime of $35,515, private duty pay of $63,148 and a retirement payout of $50,367.
Sgt, Eric Wethered, who earned $227,735, including a base pay of $111,006, overtime of $57,947, extra duty pay of $58,782.
Lt. Lang Mussen, who earned $216,661, including a base pay of $119,678, overtime of $56,467 and private duty pay of $40,515.
Detective Peter Dauphinais, who earned $212,633, including a base salary of $98,560, overtime of $62,689 and extra duty pay of $51,383.
Lt. Jason Warner, who earned $208,953, including a base salary of $126,380, overtime of $68,816 and private duty pay of $13,758.
Lt. Christopher Lennon, who earned $208,379, with a base pay of $126,822 and overtime of $81,557.
Police Officer Mark Kichar, who earned $204,259, including a base pay of $92,712, overtime of $98,825, private duty pay of $12,721.
Lt. Geoffrey Lund, who earned $201,358, including base pay of $120,139, overtime of $49,301 and private duty pay of $31,918.
Police Officer Brian Hileman, who earned $197,571, including $92,966 in base pay, overtime of $75,197 and private duty pay of $29,408.
Detective Lance Podlesney, who earned $197,547, including a base pay of $98,254 with overtime of $49,094 and private duty pay of $50,199.
Lt. Craig O’Connor, who earned $197,101, including a base pay of $127,647, overtime of $49,747 and private duty pay of $19,708.
Sgt. Craig Duquette, who earned $195,855, including a base pay of $110,395, overtime of $85,459.
Detective Robert Mendela, who earned $187,504, including base pay of $95,190, overtime of $38,266 and private duty pay of $54,048.
Sgt. George Franek, who earned $186,232, including a base pay of $109,374, overtime of $75,275 and private duty pay of $1,583.
