Pittsfield Township police officers have reached an agreement with township officials that will keep them patrolling the roads for the next five years.

After months of negotiations, township board members gave unanimous tentative approval to the agreement with the Police Officers Association of Michigan without much discussion during their last meeting, Supervisor Mandy Grewal said.

A Pittsfield Township police officer uses a radar gun to check a driver's speed.

Pittsfield Township, Brian Kabat

The contract, as well as tentative agreements with other public safety employees, is up for a final vote at tonight's meeting.

The beginning wage for an officer starting in 2010 is $39,791, township officials said. Wages will be frozen for the first two years of the five-year contract, but it can be reopened for negotiation in 2012, according to the agreement. Officials said the top wage for an officer after the five years is $57,331.

Much of the contract with road patrol officers mirrors previous agreements, Grewal said. But she noted that the union agreed to no wage increases in the early part of the contract and the township was able to retain officers' health benefits.

She also noted the agreements are typically for four years, but the township was able to add a fifth, showing strong commitments from both sides.

“We worked really hard through a collaborative process. We felt we really needed to walk the walk,” Grewal said. “We talk about providing first-class public safety services and really wanted to show on our end the gratitude and appreciation for the work they do for us on a daily basis.”

Officials with the union did not return messages.

The agreement rounds out all contracts related to the township’s public safety employees. The township reached tentative agreements with the unions representing firefighters, police command staff and police dispatchers earlier this year. The contacts expired on Dec. 31, 2009, and changes to their benefits and wages have already been implemented retroactively to the beginning of the year.

Grewal said the township is still in negotiations with its members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Township Hall, 6201 W. Michigan Ave.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.