Winnipeg police chief top earner in 2022

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This article was published 29/06/2023 (832 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth was the City of Winnipeg’s top earner last year, with $294,113 in overall compensation.

He was joined by six other emergency services staff on the list of the top 10 most compensated workers.

The annual compensation disclosure report lists all city employees who earn $75,000 or more. Chief administrative officer Michael Jack placed second, with $281,590, followed by former chief operating officer Dave Wardrop ($245,789).

Wardrop was listed as the third-highest earner in 2022, despite the fact he stopped working for the city in 2020.

The compensation disclosure report is not limited to salary. The amounts listed can also include overtime, retroactive pay adjustments, retirement allowance, sick pay cash-out, vacation pay cash-out, back pay and severance pay, though the report does not explain how each benefit factored in.

While she declined to comment on individual compensation, the city’s communications director explained benefits can last long after an employee stops working.

“When an employee leaves the city, they do have the ability to split remaining compensation over two years, and do not have to receive it all in the year they left,” Felicia Wiltshire wrote Thursday in an emailed statement.

Coun. Markus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said it makes sense police are often among the top 10, since realities of their jobs can make retaining staff a challenge.

“That fact that they’re putting their lives on the line daily, the physical aspect of the job (is a factor) to some degree, as well (leading to higher compensation)… So it’s all part and parcel of a very complex job,” said Chambers.

While some have called on the province to require more detail in the release of government employee compensation, such as how much compensation reflects severance, Mayor Scott Gillingham said the current level is valuable.

“Parsing it out is not a priority of mine in this moment… I think what’s important is that the people of Winnipeg can have access to this information and this compensation information. I think it’s important for accountability.”

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

2022 compensation disclosure