ROCKINGHAM — The city’s firefighters and police officers will receive a one-time hazardous duty payment for working through the COVID-19 pandemic.
City Manager Monty Crump announced Tuesday that the City Council approved the measure to give each employee in those departments an extra $250.
“These public safety heroes remain on the frontline serving the citizens of Rockingham during COVID-19 24/7 ... without fail,” Crump said in a press release. “For legal and personnel reasons I cannot go into a lot of detail, but the risk that each one of these unselfish public servants assume each day they come to work in this COVID-19 pandemic environment is absolutely real.”
Crump added that several officers and firefighters have come into direct contact with the coronavirus during the course of their duties since the pandemic began last month, but none of that contact has resulted in infection.
Crump said the pay “serves as just a small token of the appreciation for the dedicated service that they provide all the citizens of Rockingham especially during these very trying times.”
Distribution of the hazard pay began Tuesday, he said.
“The city of Rockingham would like to further acknowledge our gratefulness to all of our frontline healthcare workers that serve our entire community with tireless dedication as well,” he concluded.
