- 2021 reports claimed some local police salaries exceeded 16,000 lei monthly
- Union: retirement age is 65, not 45 as alleged
- Salaries shown were gross, not net after taxes and contributions
- 2020 minister claimed Local Police earn nearly double MAI salaries
Introductory overview: Controversies surrounding the Local Police salaries have dominated public discourse in recent years, fueling heated debates about the level of compensation for these civil servants. While some outlets spoke of salaries above 16,000 lei per month, unions and local institutions have provided clarifications, presenting the real figures that paint a different picture.
The remuneration of local police officers remains a sensitive topic, with contradictory statements and data interpreted differently by various sources. To understand the true situation, it is necessary to analyze both the accusations raised and the official responses offered by the institutions involved.
Controversy in 2021: Accusations of salaries over 16,000 lei
In 2021, the Aleph News publication published an article claiming there were local police officers earning over 16,000 lei per month. The article highlighted specific cases in Sector 1 of the capital, where:
- Executive Director at Local Police would have earned over 19,000 lei per month
- A General Director would have received over 13,000 lei
- An auditor would have a salary over 16,000 lei
The same source noted that other officers without leadership roles would have received 20,000 lei, 14,000 lei, and 13,000 lei per month. A common feature of these cases, according to the article, was that all mentioned officers were retired from the Police at age 45.
Similar situation at the Local Police of Bucharest
The article extended the accusations to the Local Police of the Capital City Hall, noting that in 2020:
- The General Director’s salary was 18,000 lei gross
- The Deputy General Director and the Executive Director were both at 17,000 lei gross
- A Service Chief earned 13,000 lei gross
- A local police officer earned up to 8,200 lei, with no allowances or meal provisions
Official response from the Union of Local Police Unions
The Union of Local Police Unions in Romania responded promptly to the accusations, calling them a “real misinformation attempt” in the public space. The union clarified several essential points:
Correcting retirement information
The union stated that, under the Pension Law, local police officers may retire at age 65, not at 45 as suggested by the controversial article.
Difference between gross and net salaries
A second issue identified by the unions was the presentation of only gross salaries, without noting that social contributions and taxes are deducted, leaving roughly half of the income.
Ambiguities about salary components
The union pointed out that it was not clear whether the figures represented only the salary and/or the service pension, which could lead to misinterpretations.
Controversial statements by the Minister of Internal Affairs in 2020
In May 2020, the Minister of Internal Affairs at the time made statements about pay differences between Local Police and the National Police, claiming Local Police employees earn almost double that of MAI employees.
These statements provoked a wave of outrage among local police officers, many of whom decided to publish their payslips to demonstrate the reality of their earnings.
A local police officer from Timisoara published his own payslip, accusing Marcel Vela of misinformation and showing that the reality differed from the official statements.
Official response from Timișoara Local Police
In response to the controversy, Timișoara Local Police published a complete list of the real salaries of personnel under its subordination for 2020:
Salaries for operational roles
- 2,000–3,000 lei per month: 93 local police officers
- 3,000–4,000 lei per month: 132 local police officers
- 4,000–5,000 lei per month: 33
Salaries for management positions
- Office Chief: 6,054 lei per month
- Service Chief: 6,582 lei per month
- Deputy Executive Director: 7,032 lei per month
- Executive Director: 7,435 lei per month
All these sums represented net income after the deduction of all taxes and social contributions.
Salary evolution at Bucharest Local Police
Period 2019-2020
According to information published by hotnews.ro, the salaries of Bucharest local police officers rose in 2020 compared with 2019:
Leadership positions:
- General Director: from 16,298 lei gross (2019) to 18,148 lei gross (March 2020)
- Deputy General Director and Executive Director: from 16,497 lei gross to 17,687 lei gross
- Service Chiefs: from 12,193 lei gross to 13,842 lei gross
Operational staff:
- Local police officers: from 3,509-9,899 lei gross (2019) to a maximum of 8,196 lei gross (2020)
- Drivers: from 3,817 lei to 4,093 lei gross
Situation in 2022
According to information published by the General Directorate of Local Police Sector 6 Bucharest, available on the official page, the salary rights in 2022 presented the following structure:
These official data provide a transparent view of the real salary structure in Local Police, different from the speculations that appeared in the press.
Conclusions
Controversies surrounding Local Police salaries highlight the importance of verifying information and access to official data. While some articles presented exaggerated figures, institutional responses have shown that the reality is much more nuanced.
Public transparency in presenting salary data remains essential for maintaining public trust and avoiding misinformation. The Local Police case shows that proactively publishing correct information can effectively counter speculation and clarify the real situation for public opinion.