Derry police are working under a new three-year contract approved by borough council on Tuesday.

The contract covers five police officers and runs through the end of 2026. The officers had been working under the terms of a previous agreement that expired in July.

“We’re happy with the contract,” said Sgt. Doug Sam, who is serving as the police department’s acting chief.

“We weren’t really hung up on anything in particular,” Sam said of the contract negotiations. He said there were some delays because of scheduling conflicts for attorneys involved in the process.

Officers will receive an hourly raise of 25 cents in each year of the contract, Sam said.

As an added incentive for retaining officers, he said, part-timers will be paid at a time-and-a-half rate when they work on a holiday. They’ll also be eligible to earn paid time off, he said.

Mayor Grant Nicely said Wednesday that Derry police Chief Randy Glick, who is covered by a separate contract, remained on an extended medical leave.

Glick earns about $56,200 per year.

During the leave, Nicely said, Glick is being paid through a “heart and lung” policy and worker’s compensation coverage — which would indicate Glick was injured on the job. Nicely said he is not at liberty to discuss details of Glick’s medical condition.

Glick was serving as a dog handler in the department’s K-9 program, which was disbanded in October following the August euthanization of its police dog, Smoke.

Smoke was injured Aug. 25 in Glick’s backyard, when he confronted one person aggressively, bit another and got into a fight with a family dog, according to a statement by borough solicitor Lee Demosky.

Glick ultimately used a Taser on the family dog to stop the fight, Demosky said. Three days later, a veterinarian’s examination revealed serious injuries to the dog. Demosky said officials discussed surgery but were told by the vet euthanization was the “most humane” option.

Derry officials have not confirmed a report that Glick was injured in the Aug. 25 incident.

The department received Smoke, a Malinois pup from Holland, in 2020. Smoke’s death has sparked public criticism about the dog’s treatment, including concern that he was sharing Glick’s home with another dog.

Nicely responded to criticism aired at council’s Feb. 6 public work session. “The dog was kept in a separate section of the house,” he said of Smoke. “He had his own room, his own entrance, his own exercise time and area.”

At its March meeting, council agreed to donate $3,295 remaining in the borough’s K-9 fund to the Westmoreland County Animal Response Team. That volunteer team is dedicated to helping animals affected by disasters.

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