Dover had 68 employees who made over $100K in 2023 including 36 in the police department
On the 2023 Dover payroll, the city had 68 employees who made more than $100,000, not including overtime or bonuses.
Thirty-six of those workers are in the police department, including the city’s highest-paid employee, Police Chief Thomas Johnson, who made $165,817.
Mayor Robin Christiansen said the police chief’s salary was based on qualifications, experience, education, salaries of other department staff and the Fraternal Order of Police union contract.
“Since public safety is priority one to any city that hopes to grow and thrive, these expenses are incurred to provide that, from the newest recruit to the chief,” Christiansen said. “Likewise in all other aspects of city services it is within reason to employ the best employees to accomplish and fulfill that mission. All of our employees are worth their compensation and then some. They get it done every day.”
SEARCH SALARIES City of Dover 2023 salaries
Of the 515 employees on the payroll, some positions are part-time like the playground leader making $15,600, and some people serve on advisory groups like those receiving $100 on the planning commission.
City refuses to submit information on overtime or bonuses
The News Journal/delawareonline requested overtime and bonuses with the 2023 employees’ salaries, but the city did not provide that information.
In an email, the city clerk’s office said:
"As previously stated, there was a change in our Controller/Treasurer for the Finance Department. The Finance team is also implementing a new payroll system, therefore they were not able to provide the requested bonuses and overtime as it is not available in one report. Section 3.1(F) of the City of Dover Freedom of Information Act Policy - Public Records Access states that, 'This policy does not require the City to make a compilation, summary, or report of information, or otherwise create a document that did not previously exist.' "
Top 20 highest Dover employee salaries
1. Thomas Johnson, police chief, $165,817
2. David Hugg, city manager and assistant, salary $159,140
3. Sharon Duca, city manager and assistant, salary $152,609
4. David Spicer, police major, salary $152,131
5. James Vinson, line crew superintendent, $139,942
6. (tie) Aaron Dickinson, police captain, salary $139,568
6. (tie) Kevin Kober, police captain, salary $139,568
6. (tie) Randy Robbins, police captain, salary $139,568
7. Jason Lyon, water and wastewater utility director, salary $135,616
8. Lori Peddicord, controller/treasurer, salary $135,179
9. Aren Wright, engineering fieldman crew lead, salary $128,606
10. (tie) Paul Kuntzi, police lieutenant, salary $128,315
10. (tie) Derek Lawson, police lieutenant, salary $128,315
10. (tie) Robert Roswell, police lieutenant, salary $128,315
11. Kevin Streadwick, police lieutenant, salary $127,046
12. Larry Waddell, electric director, $127,004
13. Jordan Miller, police lieutenant, salary $125,798
14. (tie) James Sack, system operator crew leader 1, salary $120,640
14. (tie) Matthew Clendaniel, lineman first, second and third crew, salary $120,640
14. (tie) Matthew Espil, lineman first, second and third crew, salary $120,640
14. (tie) Stephen Sapp, lineman first, second and third crew, salary $120,640
15. (tie) Jeffrey Gott, police sergeant, salary $120,515
15. (tie) Mark Hoffman, police sergeant, salary $120,515
15. (tie) Jennifer Lynch, police sergeant, salary $120,515
16. Peter Martinek, police sergeant, salary $119,329
17. Joseph Bauer, police sergeant, salary $116,979
18. John Willson, police sergeant, salary $115,814
19. Lawrence Josefowski, information technology director, salary $114,795
20. Ian Thompson, police sergeant, salary $114,649
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Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: City of Dover salaries: 68 made over $100,000 in 2023
