The city of International Falls has reached an agreement on the salary for its new Chief of Police.
Captain Michael Kostiuk will take over the new role on July 6.
City Solicitor Steve Shermoen says they felt a salary, similar to the current police chief and the fire chief, was warranted.
“One of the big concerns was we felt that it would not be fair for the incoming Chief to accept a promotion but make less money than he’s making now as the captain,” says Shermoen.
Kostiuk will earn a salary of over $92 thousand a year.
Shermoen says it will be phased in.
“He starts out making a couple of thousand dollars more than he’s paid now as a captain, then that will increase after six months. It will go to 95% of the full salary and after one year go to the full salary,” says Shermoen.
Kostiuk is replacing current Police Chief Rich Mastin, who announced his retirement in April, ending a 20-year policing career with the International Falls Police Department.
