Committee Approves Sheriff's Dept Pay Scale

July 15, 2004

HUNTSVILLE - County Commission's Emergency Services Committee has given its approval to several new policies for the Scott County Sheriff's Department, including adoption of a pay scale based on job description, education level and years of service.

That action came during the committee's regular monthly work session Monday, but it is subject to a vote of the full commission before final approval.

Sheriff Jim Carson was on hand for the committee meeting, during which several issues were addressed including establishing - for the first time ever - a pay scale for Sheriff's Department employees.

Other related issues acted on by the Monday night included:

* Taking the first step toward establishing a rotation of patrol car purchases, and limiting the number of patrol cars in service at one time to 10;

* Establishing specific qualifications and guidelines for auxiliary officers and limiting their number to 10;

* Adopting a chain of command chart for the Sheriff's employees; and,

* Allowing the Sheriff to hire additional jailers when the number of state prisoners housed at the Scott County Jail increases.

County Mayor Dwight Murphy told the committee that he and Sheriff Carson had discussed and reviewed a whole new set of policies and procedures which need to be implemented, and it was his (Murphy's) suggestion that they consider them, let County Attorney John Beaty review them, and then send them on to the full commission for a final vote next month.

Of all the new policies discussed and/or acted upon Monday night, it was the pay scale for department employees which generated the most discussion.

As approved by the committee, the new salary schedule is expected to cost the county around $35,000 this budget year, Murphy stated, adding that Sheriff Carson had agreed to give up one deputy position this year to help implement the new pay scale without putting too much of a burden on the taxpayers to do so.

On the new "sliding" pay scale chart presented for the committee's consideration, each Sheriff's Department position is identified, with years of service ranging from one to 10, and education levels ranging from high school to college degrees. As currently structured, a patrol officer with a high school education and fresh out of the police academy would earn $20,000 a year, and would be entitled to $150 a year raises each year over a 10-year period.

A new officer with an associate's degree would start at a salary of $22,000, and one with a bachelor's degree would start at $22,500, with both eligible for the same annual raises.

Similar charts were listed for other department employees (including detective, lieutenant, sergeant, assistant chief deputy, chief deputy, chief detective, jail administrator, drug agent, secretary, mechanic and D.A.R.E. officer).

As structured, the new pay scale would allow for across the board raises when and if approved by the commission.

There was some confusion about separate pay scales for jailer/dispatchers and the committee decided to discuss and act on those at a later date.

In order to try to get a handle on the fleet of aging patrol cars currently being used by the Sheriff's Department, the committee voted to advertise for bids on four new patrol cars, and to begin a rotation plan whereby two vehicles would be purchased each year to replace the older models. Murphy sugested that the bids be taken and brought back to the commission a month from now.

"Somehow, we have to get on a rotation and out of the junk business," Murphy stated, in reference to the past practice of purchasing surplus vehicles from the state.

The policy approved by the committee concerning auxiliary officers stipulates that the number of officers be limited to 10, with all being required to maintain a 40-hour per year inservice training schedule, passing a psychological examination and be certified on the range in order to carry a handgun.

County Mayor Murphy said this should be a minimum requirement in order to have those officers included in the county's workers compensation policy.

Committee Chairman Hertis Phillips said he felt this policy would "be good for the county, the Sheriff and his department."

news@ihoneida.com

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