Saturday, August 23, 2008

Three new deputies will put six on duty during most shifts

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

The county commission shook the piggy bank hard Wednesday night, giving five administrators in the sheriff's department pay raises and adding three brand new deputy positions to the department.

The discussion began with Sheriff Rene Rivera asking for pay raises for the department's captain, three lieutenants and undersheriff. In May, the county commission approved a union contract that included compensation based on an officer's time served in the department.

"Unfortunately, these five positions aren't eligible for that pay because they are not union members," Rivera said. "That means there are some sergeants and deputies making more than my lieutenants, captain and undersheriff. This request is to proportionately compensate the supervisors."

To bring those five positions up, it will cost the county an additional $561,876 annually in salaries and benefits.

Commissioner Ron Gentry said it was his understanding that the reasoning behind the longevity pay was to keep officers with experience in the field. "I am going to be very candid. After a meeting at Las Maravillas, where you told the people that the commission turned down your request for two more deputies, I was flooded with e-mails saying we need more officers on the streets. Saying we need to support the sheriff's department," he said.

"And I believe you are correct; we did say no to the two deputies due to budgetary constraints. Now we have just over $220,000 in unencumbered cash in a budget of $12 million. I haven't received any e-mails saying that the sheriff's administration needs a raise. I've heard we need more deputies on the street. Which would you rather have?"

Rivera said the situation wasn't that simple. "Without those five guys, we'll go down again," he said. "They don't feel it's fair that the sergeants are making more than them, when the lieutenants are taking care of them and telling them what to do. I need to keep them happy."

Gentry countered that he needs to keep his constituents happy. "And that means more deputies on the streets," he said. "If we are going to do this for the administration, and I'm not arguing the point that they don't deserve a raise, but if we are going to do that for them, I'm going to recommend that we find the money to fund three new deputy positions."

It costs the county approximately $42,000 per deputy annually for salary and benefits, Gentry said. Rivera said he currently has two vacant deputy positions that are already in the budget that he is trying to fill with experienced officers.

"We are looking at officers who have left other departments and have applied with us," he said. "But we have to do a thorough background investigation; they left those departments for some reason."

Gentry said he would favor the raises for the five administrative positions with the caveat that three new deputy positions be created and funded by the county and that Rivera staff them with already certified officers.

"I don't want people we have to send to the academy and then have them not pass or go elsewhere," he said. "I want officers who can go out in a car tomorrow, by themselves, ready to do fieldwork."

Rivera agreed that was the best way to staff the department.

The commissioner also asked Rivera to do a little myth-busting. "Every time there is a complaint about the sheriff's department, we are told that there are only two deputies on duty for the entire county at any given time," Gentry said. "Is that true?"

Rivera said that for each 12-hour shift there are three deputies, a sergeant and a lieutenant on duty. "There are five for the most part," he said. "Now, people do get sick and go on leave. So there are times when we only have two or three people on duty.

"You need to remember also, that these five officers are working administrators. My lieutenants and captain are out in the field, as well as the undersheriff and myself. Right now, Capt. (Gary) Hall is out in the field because we are short this shift."

Gentry asked if the commission agreed to fund the three new positions, would that give the sheriff's department six law enforcement officers on duty. Rivera said that was correct.

"Could you get that information out there?" Gentry asked. "I am so tired of hearing that we only have two officers on duty at any given time."

Commission Chair Pedro Rael asked Rivera how many years of experience the five administrators had. Rivera said it ranged from 11 to 14 years of service.

"If we allow the increase as the sheriff has requested, I don't have a problem with them based on experience and certification," Rael said. "I am concerned that this will be putting us very short on our cash balance. It's not a question of should we do it but can we do it."

Currently, the county shows a projected ending cash balance for the 2007-08 fiscal year of $229, 780. If the sheriff's request for the five administrators were approved, it would drop that balance to approximately $177,904.

"If we add three more positions at $42,000 each, that puts us very low on our unencumbered cash," Rael said. Expending an approximate additional $126,000 would lower the county's projected ending cash balance to approximately $51,904.

Rael said he would prefer to wait until after the property tax disbursement to the county in December. "We are getting real close to zero," he said.

Gentry said that the money was available now in the cash balance. "I would like to see this budgeted, so that when those five officers are hired, they can be put in the field and serve the people," he said.

When Rael called for the vote, Gentry voted yes along with Georgia Otero-Kirkham, Lynette Pinkston and David Medina. Rael chose to abstain from the vote, saying "I don't think we have the money."

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