The five-year agreement provides substantial salary increases and enhanced benefits for police officers, dispatchers and security officers while supporting Temple's recently launched strategic plan, Forward with Purpose.
This summer, Temple and the Temple University Police Association (TUPA) came to an agreement on a five-year contract that both sides believe will significantly improve recruitment and retention.
Photo by Matt Petrillo
One of the three priorities of Temple University's strategic plan, Forward with Purpose, is place-based impact, including creating a safer, healthier and more connected community throughout North Philadelphia. Temple hopes to help address the needs of the North Philadelphia community by spurring impactful economic growth along the North Broad Street corridor.
Realizing the vision of the corridor requires attracting additional businesses and community partners to the area, and a high-functioning Department of Public Safety at Temple is critical to that. Thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement, the Department of Public Safety is in a strong position to help hire and retain high-quality officers in service to the community.
This summer, Temple and the Temple University Police Association (TUPA) came to an agreement on a five-year contract that both sides believe will significantly improve recruitment and retention. TUPA is the labor union that represents the police officers, dispatchers and some security officers employed by the university.
The new five-year agreement was reached a little more than six months after the university released the results of an independent staffing study that was conducted for Temple's Department of Public Safety. The comprehensive study, which was completed by nationally recognized safety consultancy Healy+ and COSECURE, recommended that the university pursue a phased, multiyear staffing plan aimed at increasing the number of sworn officers while also enhancing training, operations and alternative response capabilities. This new collective bargaining agreement is part of an intentional effort toward ensuring that TUDPS remains a destination law enforcement agency for both current and prospective police officers.
"The staffing study was an important first step in our efforts to ensure that we are fully able to serve the Temple community, and this new contract is now the next step in that process," Temple University President John Fry said. "It is imperative that the Department of Public Safety is resourced for success, especially when we consider future needs that may emerge as we implement the strategic plan. After the staffing study was released, we approached TUPA to see if we could re-open negotiations.”
"I am grateful to Interim Vice President Denise Wilhelm, TUPA President Officer Andrew Lanetti and everyone who played a role in these negotiations," Fry added. "This is the textbook definition of a mutually beneficial agreement, and we are stronger as an institution because of how we all worked together to arrive at this point."
One highlight of the new contract, which was ratified on June 19, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2031, is a new pay scale that aligns more closely with the Philadelphia Police Department and will allow Temple to be more competitive in recruiting and retaining officers. The restructuring will now provide officers with increases at anniversary milestones that range from 2% - 6.5% as well as annual increases of 3%.
Specifically, sworn police officers with at least three years of experience now have a starting salary of $92,000. For officers with at least five years of experience, the starting salary is $100,000.
“From a competitive standpoint, this new contract will make a huge difference,” Lanetti said. “It is going to entice young officers at the beginning of their career to join Temple, and it will also entice officers from other agencies to join our department. It really does put us on a level playing field with other law enforcement agencies.”
“It also is really validating to be rewarded in this way and know that we are valued in this community,” Lanetti added. “It was honor to work with President Fry and the university on this, and we genuinely appreciate it.”
Dispatchers and security officers also received pay raises through the new contract. Additional updates to the contract include paid parental leave, increased vacation entitlement after 15.5 years of service, field training officer pay, and hazard pay for declared states of emergency.
"For the university and the union, this contract is a win-win," said Denise Wilhelm, interim vice president for public safety. "Our police officers, dispatchers and security officers work tirelessly in service to this community, and it is really gratifying to see them rewarded for their efforts. We hope to attract even more highly talented and highly qualified law enforcement professionals to the department as a direct result of this new agreement."