Analysis: Police are Highest Paid in Wilmington

A new analysis finds the highest paid employees in Wilmington's city government are police officers, not the mayor.

An analysis of city payroll records by The News Journal finds the 14 highest-paid city workers in 2013 were police. Overtime has boosted the annual pay for dozens of captains, lieutenants, sergeants and corporals to more than $100,000.

Mayor Dennis Williams received $112,900 last year, ranking 15th on the city payroll. Other high paid employees include the city solicitor, city treasurer, and fire chief.

Overtime pay for police grew 16 percent to $2.9 million during Williams' first year in office.

Police and some City Council members cite Wilmington's rising violence as a reason police are paid more. A record number of shootings and murders has meant more late-night investigations.