Six police bosses earn more than €178,000

Six top police officers still earned more than a minister last year. This is a significant improvement compared to 2014, when 20 police officers earned more than a minister's annual salary of 178 thousand euros.

Top earner again was Bernard Welten, former chief of Amsterdam and currently adviser to the corps leadership at the National Police, AD reports based on information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Last year he earned over 255 thousand euros including pension contributions. The figures also revealed that he earned about 15 thousand euros more in 2014 than was initially reported. According to a spokesperson for the police, the auditor found that certain benefits, such as taxi rides, fuel card and work cellphone, were not included in the original statement.

Second highest earner was Gerard Bouman, who stepped down as chief of police on February 1st this year. He earned 199 thousand euros.

The big reduction in top earners earning more than ministers can be attributed to a sharp reduction in pension contributions, according to AD. From January 1st last year, employees with a salary above 100 thousand no longer build up a pension. For top earners, that means about 20 thousand euros a year less. And pension contributions count towards the total salary.

"It remains a scandal that the police management refuses to cut their salaries", Geert Priem, president of police union ANPV, said to the newspaper.