The Seattle Police Officers' Guild overwhelmingly approved a new city contract that increased wages by 25.6 percent over the life of the four-year contract.

With more than 90 percent of 1,119 ballots returned, 89 percent favored the agreement, which included changes to the police accountability system.

"This contract makes clear that we value the hard work and dedication of the men and women who serve in the Seattle Police Department," said Mayor Greg Nickels. "The professionalism of our force - and the seriousness with which we approached police accountability - ushered a new era of labor relations with a contract that will allow us to recruit the best in the nation."

The Guild agreement enables Seattle to become the top-paid police agency in the state, based on current contracts. And it will both allow the department to retain veteran officers and fully implement the mayor's Neighborhood Policing Plan to expand the patrol force by 25 percent and provide officers with more time to work proactively on public safety issues.

Under the contract, a 12-year officer's current salary will increase from $72,072 to $90,516. That officer will receive $6,807 in retroactive pay, as of April 2008. Entry-level police officer pay would increase by 35.9 percent compounded over the life of the contract, from $47,340 to $64,312.

The contract, coupled with existing recruiting incentives, will help Seattle hire an additional 150 police officers.