---

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2017/15039a.png)

 [ LOS ANGELES ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312)

#  LA Firefighter Trio Earns Nearly $1 Million In OT Pay (Again)

May 08 2017

Written by Transparent California Report.

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES--Three Los Angeles city firefighters earned a combined $1.36 million last year — $974,779 of which came from overtime pay alone, according to just-released 2016 salary data from [TransparentCalifornia.com.](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=nocsaToartoC)

The trio was able to boost their earnings so dramatically as a result of having received the three largest overtime payouts of the more than [550,000 workers surveyed](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=12svmqotourq) statewide:

1. Fire captain Charles Ferrari received $334,655 in OT, with total earnings of $**469,198**.
2. Fire captain James Vlach received $332,583 in OT, with total earnings of **$469,158**.
3. Firefighter Donn Thompson received $307,542 in OT, with total earnings of **$424,913**.

Remarkably, this is the trio’s 2nd year in a row as the state’s top overtime earners, having also topped the of the more than [2.4 million government workers](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=eeanwat5mreu) surveyed in 2015.

**Thompson earns $1.23M over 3 years**

Thompson’s overtime pay was at least the 3rd highest of the more than 2 million public workers surveyed in each of the past three years, boosting his total earnings to [$1,229,504](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=5stneosfp3yh).

**Six-figure OT payouts at the LAFD up 760%**

Over the past five years, the number of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) workers who earned at least $100,000 in overtime pay increased by 760 percent, rising from 51 in 2012 to an all-time high of 439 last year.

By comparison, there was only one fire employee in the entire state of Nevada who earned over $100,000 in overtime pay last year, according to [TransparentNevada.com](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=thtatertstrT).

**LAFD’s OT at national-high levels**

At $197 million, overtime pay accounted for 31 percent of LAFD’s total budget for the 2016 fiscal year. This dwarfs the rate of other major fire departments like New York (19%), Orange County (12%), San Diego (12%), Houston (5%) and Phoenix (3%).

In response, Transparent California research director Robert Fellner stated:

“The issue is not a lack of solutions. Those have been forthcoming from a coalition of experts, including those from LAFD’s own ranks, for decades. The issue is lack of a political will for the precise reasons an official outlined nearly two decades ago: fear of political retaliation.”

Transparent California’s full report on overtime pay at the LAFD can be [found here.](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=rtpot22roec1)

**Port Pilots earn over $500k**

The three highest-compensated Los Angeles city employees were:

1. Chief port pilot II Michael Rubino, who earned: [**$582,734**.](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=tssehpgultal)
2. Port pilot II John Betz, who earned: [**$501,907.**](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=la0r0rnt0his)
3. Chief port pilot II John Dwyer, who earned: [**$488,607.**](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=nstdsop0gast)

To view a more detailed version of this release, please [click here.](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=rtpot22roec1)

*(Transparent California is California’s largest and most comprehensive database of public sector compensation and is a project of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a nonpartisan, free-market think tank. Learn more at* [*TransparentCalifornia.com*](http://www.npri.org/track/trackurl.asp?q=u2ciecqtimgh)*.)*

*-cw*

 [ ![benzinga ad](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/benzinga%20headlines%20350.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/106 "benzinga ad")

 [ ![save up to 4000 on used evs](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")

 [ ![Donna Tryfman](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/Donna-Tryfman-Ad-Final-Complete-Border-White-Margin.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 [ ![David DeJute Campaign](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/DejuteAd.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")

 [ ![Pay Water Bill Help](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20-%20cares-ad.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays &amp; Thursdays

 Email

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/1c/072d-1c016ddf.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33319:when-the-last-minute-power-play-failed-sacramento-finally-ran-out-of-time&catid=375)

### [When the Last-Minute Power Play Failed: Sacramento Finally Ran Out of Time](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33319:when-the-last-minute-power-play-failed-sacramento-finally-ran-out-of-time&catid=375)

MY THOUGHTS - Gavin Newsom came to the final days of his final regular legislative session with one more major problem…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/88/071n-88bb0b90.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33300:follow-the-money-how-does-a-3-662-apartment-become-affordable-housing&catid=378)

### [Follow the Money: How Does a $3,662 Apartment Become “Affordable Housing”?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33300:follow-the-money-how-does-a-3-662-apartment-become-affordable-housing&catid=378)

INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS - ED 1 Is Redeveloping Los Angeles—One Neighborhood at a Time You know that persistent, annoyin…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4b/070i-4ba64015.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

### [Newsom’s Next Immigration Gamble: Defy Federal Law And Dare Washington To Fight Back](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

MY THOUGHTS - Gov. Gavin Newsom is about to decide whether California should take another extraordinary gamble with fed…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/44/071d-441a7ed2.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33308:as-california-debated-sharing-data-on-drivers-homeland-security-subpoenaed-17-million-records&catid=425)

### [As California Debated Sharing Data On Drivers, Homeland Security Subpoenaed 17 Million Records](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33308:as-california-debated-sharing-data-on-drivers-homeland-security-subpoenaed-17-million-records&catid=425)

TECHNOLOGY - California lawmakers wrestled with a difficult question earlier this summer: Could the state safely share…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/63/071g-63b8cac9.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33307:california-apartment-association-gears-up-for-rent-control-battle-in-redwood-city&catid=429)

### [California Apartment Association Gears Up for Rent Control Battle in Redwood City](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33307:california-apartment-association-gears-up-for-rent-control-battle-in-redwood-city&catid=429)

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT - The California Apartment Association and many of the largest corporate landlords in the Unit…

---

##  [ LOS ANGELES ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/071a5.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33295:7-ways-to-turn-la28-hype-into-lasting-youth-sports-growth&catid=312)### [7 Ways to Turn LA28 Hype Into Lasting Youth Sports Growth](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33295:7-ways-to-turn-la28-hype-into-lasting-youth-sports-growth&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/071a4.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33294:7-simple-ways-to-keep-pets-safe-this-halloween&catid=312)### [7 Simple Ways To Keep Pets Safe This Halloween](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33294:7-simple-ways-to-keep-pets-safe-this-halloween&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/071a.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33291:6-secrets-keeping-la-worksites-safe&catid=312)### [6 Secrets Keeping LA Worksites Safe](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33291:6-secrets-keeping-la-worksites-safe&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/070d.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33281:designed-to-fail&catid=312)### [Designed to Fail](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33281:designed-to-fail&catid=312)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/070m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33287:la-mayor-in-flip-flops&catid=312)### [LA Mayor in Flip Flops](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33287:la-mayor-in-flip-flops&catid=312)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>