Mayor Joseph Curtatone signs an agreement with SPD union president Joseph Aufiero.

By Andrew Firestone

Somerville Police Superior Officers’ Association (SPSOA) and the city have signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday, August 9, ensuring a deal until at least June 2012. The agreement retroactively puts all officers back on contract, a situation in flux since 2009.

While the contract has yet to be signed, the understanding is that Chief Thomas Pasquarello will be able to name his own choices to two top jobs in the department, without having to resort to choosing from a select few within the public sector. The gang task force will also have their duties reconfigured.

The three-year agreement, which is backdated from when the last contract expired in 2009 will include pay raises for many in the department.

“Our senior officers have devoted their careers to the people of Somerville. It may have taken a while to reach an agreement on this contract, but their dedication to this community and our appreciation of their fine work has never been in question,” said Mayor Joseph Curtatone. The mayor signed the agreement with the president of the union, Joseph Aufiero, with Chief Pasquarello and Deputy Chief Michael Cabral present.