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A new union representing Gaithersburg Police officers wants clarity on their future and compensation.

Gaithersburg Police officers want the department to grow and want a vision for a standalone department separate from the county's department, said Cpl. Lester Rice, with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 138, which becomes official Nov. 1 and hopes to be a collective bargaining unit.

Two years ago, Chief John King proposed department growth and expanding the beat system. The mayor and council promised a year-long discussion, but never had it.

Budget cuts have frozen hiring in the department, said King, who was hired in 2007 to grow the force and implement a beat plan by 2010 that King has said would take 67 officers. A standalone department and full-service agency would take 10 years to grow and require 125 officers.

But that can't happen unless the city receives about $2 million in tax duplication funds.

Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz said the city manager and King should bring ideas on the department's future direction and growth.

"If the chief is suggesting that we need additional people, then I think at that point, that's when those discussions would take place," he said.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 117, which also includes Rockville city officers, has endorsed his opponent in the Nov. 3 election, Richard Koch, saying he could help grow the city and department through economic development.

"There needs to be an independent analysis of the city's compensation packages to provide credible data for the police department to use," Koch said.

An independent evaluation should address how to deal with older police officers waiting until 65 to retire, he said.

Councilman Henry F. Marraffa Jr., who has seen the force double in size, said city police receive one of the state's highest salaries for law enforcement.

If re-elected, Marraffa plans to work with staff on officers' retirement plans, he said. He is concerned officers are looking outside the city for employment. FOP Lodge 117 endorsed Marraffa.

Councilman Michael A. Sesma, elected four years ago, said he pushed for expanding the police beat system and providing compensation to make the city competitive.

Recruit training costs approximately $50,000. Sesma said the city manager needs to address promotion and career advancement opportunities and consider recruiting and retention bonuses.

He blamed turnover in city management and budget cuts for stalled talks on the police department's growth and strategic direction and said he wants to see an analysis from King.

Tom Rowse, a Deer Park resident running for one of the two council seats, called for King to specify how many officers he wants and said that if he is getting turned down, the mayor and council should examine why.

"We need to have a long-term disability package, especially for police officers," he said, adding that officers should receive a disability pension and all staff should have ample long-term disability insurance.

Learn about the candidates and issues in the Nov. 3 election at www.gazette.net/

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