You shouldn't be going in to police for the money. Wrong career option. I personally care more about philosophy and the work environment. I don't fit in well with "old world" police departments. That's why my top choices are how they are. That said...

Lakewood has high pay after 5 years and you cap out. But the department is super forward thinking and progressive with its efforts.

Arvada is the highest paying in the first years working with all the reworking they are doing. They plan to open up a few extra district hubs and need more people. They are slowly incorporating Lakewoods philosophy , going from an old world department to a new world one.

Fort Collins is one of the highest paying over all but you get meh benefits. But the culture is top notch with leading new world ideas.

Denver is the highest paying department minus the livening expense (Denvers not cheep). But the department is in the middle of culture issues and still rooted In old world philosophy.

You could pay me 88,000 a year, but if your department is about "Beating people to get respect" and actively hostile to new ideas. I could never work for a department like that. I remember one department here (I will not give its name) thought I would be a problem for them because I like Evidence based police practices and the only fight I was in was in defense of another years ago. They disliked I had a college degree and it showed in every question I answered. Pay me 6 figures, I'll never work for a department like that.