Police, city leaders given top salaries; 2014 payroll records are released.

Byline: Bob Kievra

WORCESTER -- Police commanders and the top leaders at City Hall and the Worcester Public Schools comprise the city's top 10 highest-paid employees for 2014, according to payroll records.

City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., in his first year on the job, topped the list of highest-paid employees, with gross pay of $214,233. His regular pay was $184,979. His predecessor, former city manager Michael V. O'Brien, had gross pay of $192,320 in 2013, his last year on the job.

Police Chief Gary J. Gemme and Mark S. Roche came in as the second and third highest-paid city employees, making $201,569 and $194,944 respectively, in 2014. Deputy Chief Roche supplemented his regular pay with $35,566 in extra pay from detail assignments, about the same as he made in 2013.

Superintendent Melinda J. Boone rose to fourth on the list, coming in at $194,826, up from $190,200 in 2013 when she was No. 6 on the list. Ms. Boone is one of two women among the top 20 wage earners.

Police Officer Hazel D. Berry was the second highest-paid female employee, ranking number 18 with total pay of $169,295, including detail work of $72,135. The only other woman in the top 50 was Assistant City Manager Kathleen G. Johnson, No. 49 on the list, with gross pay of $154,601.

The list of the top 250 wage earners was generated by the city administration and is on the agenda for Tuesday night's City Council meeting. The Telegram & Gazette had also asked for the information earlier this month.

Police officers and commanders able to access paid details and...