Citing pay disparities and fearing an exodus of key county police officers, County Councilman Jamie Benoit introduced a bill this month to allow more than two dozen lieutenants to join the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.

The lieutenants, frustrated their subordinates earn more money and have greater protections, have been fighting to unionize since October.

"There's no one on the bench wanting to be lieutenant," said Benoit, D-Crownsville. "It's never been this way. There's always a lot of people waiting to be promoted."

The lieutenants have been entangled in a legal battle...