A federal judge has ruled that Los Angeles police officers should be paid for the time it takes them to put on and take off their uniforms and safety equipment, a ruling that could potentially cost the LAPD millions of dollars in back pay and higher salaries.

In a 39-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess found that the several minutes it takes an officer to dress for duty is an important part of the job because "police uniforms convey and legitimize officers' authority, increase officer safety, and help deter crime," and fall under the compensation rules of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act.

"This is a huge deal," said Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League that represents the LAPD's rank-and-file officers. The union has filed another lawsuit on the issue in a different court.

The impact of Feess' ruling on LAPD salaries remains to be seen. One attorney familiar with the case questioned whether officers worked enough hours each month to meet a threshold contained in the Fair Labor Act. But, with salaries starting at about $55,000 in the LAPD and officers arguing that the ruling should be retroactive, the implications are potentially large.

Next month, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments in a case that addresses the same issue, attorneys said.

Attorneys for the city of Los Angeles must likely decide now whether to appeal Feess' ruling right away, wait to see whether the higher court comes down in favor of police departments, or start hammering out a pay agreement with its officers.

Regardless, the ruling is not welcome news for the city as it struggles to close a budget gap estimated at more than $500 million. A spokesman for City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo could not be reached immediately for comment.