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Read comments (30)For example, one officer recently left the local department for a job with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department that paid $8,000 more.
"How do we compete with that?" Lowman asked.
Replacing an officer who leaves may mean the county has no choice but to hire someone at entry level. The department pays the $2,000 tuition to the state law enforcement academy, plus housing, meals and other expenses, for a total cost of $3,000 to $4,000. The officer is on the local payroll during the 10-week course. That officer must then have six months of on-the-job training, which Lowman said raises the total cost of bringing in a new employee to $10,000 or more.
Any law enforcement officer is at risk in the line of duty, and Lowman said that's harder to face when employees don't think the citizens support them.
Lowman admits that the county's budget situation is tight.
"Everybody that works in this department is a taxpayer," he said. But he said the county may need to spend a little extra money now to avoid having to spend more in the future.
In addition to the salary differences between Bedford County and other area departments, the county's insurance coverage has been a long-time focus of complaints. Lowman said his department had been planning for another premium increase in the next fiscal year, but the county Financial Management Committee took that money out of the department's budget request, implying that any increase will be passed along to the employee.
Starting salary for a deputy in Bedford County is $29,274 per year.
"They've got a family to feed," said Lowman. "They've got house payments, they've got car payments."
No central organization tracks deputies' salaries, which vary widely across the country.
In Wayne County, Tenn., deputies start at $8 an hour but get bumped up to $9 if they finish a 10-week law enforcement training program. In Bryan County, Okla., starting pay for a deputy is $10.38 an hour.
More affluent Cumberland County, Maine, pays new deputies $17.82 an hour. A new, trained deputy earns $25.06 in an hour in Riverside County, Calif., outside Los Angeles.
In Missouri, the deputy sheriff's association says the average salary for a deputy is $22,262 a year, less than it takes to qualify for food stamps.
Missouri Deputy Sheriff's Association President Dave Boehm said deputies in sparsely populated areas make about $17,000 a year, while deputies in suburban counties near St. Louis start at about $30,000. Several years ago, he said, a chief deputy gave up his job to cut grass.
"He was able to make more money in a grass cutting season then he could in a full year as chief deputy of a sheriff's department," Boehm said.
Lowman said the cuts approved Tuesday night by the Financial Management Committee came as a shock to the department.
"We went Monday, before their meeting on Tuesday," to discuss a proposed budget which would take out a request for cameras and one new detective. "Basically, everything else was going to be fine .... Then, we get a budget where a lot of things had been taken out."
Lowman said he understands the tight budget this year, but the sheriff's department has its own needs and responsibilities.
"I know this is a bad thing, and I know we've got to make this budget work, but ... they can't keep going the way that they've been going," he said.
Former Tennessee Sheriff's Association President Terry Ashe, a sheriff for 26 years, said counties that don't pay enough or provide affordable benefits are doing a "disservice to taxpayers" because deputies leave for other jobs.
He said that unlike a police officer, a deputy has to know civil law to serve lawsuits and court orders.
"You go out there with an attachment to take children out of a bad home and you think that isn't trouble?" Ashe said. "Police officers don't have to do that."
-- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
I wish our sheriff's dept. would take a lesson from Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona. He has cost of feeding inmates down to less than .20 a day and charges the inmates for them. If you don't know who this remarkable man is, google him and find out how he has saved his county millions of dollars. If more jails were run the way his is, there'd be more money for pay for law enforcement and I guarantee there'd be less return offenders in our jails.
I say Give Them Their Raise! Police, Firefighters, Sherrifs they are ALL NEEDED "Their jobs ARE dangerous, Not everybody wants to do that type of job, So they BETTER hang on to the ones We Have. Give them the raise, AND Good Benefits as well!
Wow, I never thought I'd see the day that people were fighting over giving the men and women who work everyday to save my life a raise.
hey, bull1973, I see county cars on Sunday coming in on Hwy 269, around 5-7pm at Hastings during the week. Yes, that's right, at actually in the parking lot at Hastings. I've seen them parked at that little lawn/tractor place that opened up over behind Raceway, and I've seen them at the BP across from Raceway. So unless on their way to the mental hospital, they stopped off to return a movie with an inmate in the backseat, I'd guess it's personal. I guess I should write down times, dates, and car numbers, hand it to the co. commisioners office and let them deal with it. and if sweetbaby77 doesn't know what she's talking about and they don't pay out of their pocket, which I have a hard time imaging that they do, that just makes it worse.
first off sweetbaby77 doesnt have a clue of what they r talking about and sec marie77 is this seeing a patrol car during the day, night or what?they do have to go into coffee co. to pickup people from the jail police department and go thru that area to get to chatt. to the mental hospital. so dont start talking about how our officers drive all over other counties until u can prove that it is personal bussiness or official bussiness
Just to let a few folks know that the fuel that is put into the squad cars and emergency vehicals is paid for out of the budget the county gets anything over the budget amout the police, sheriff deputies, and fire fighters must pay out of their own pockets.
Exactly my point. Volunteer fire fighters and other workers are not compensated for their fuel, so why should the paid deputies be able to drive around to surrounding counties to do personal errands in their patrol car, probably while they are supposed to be in our county protecting and patroling our county roads and homes?? And maybe while they are at it, they should consider an auxilary s.o. in times when they are overburdened? I'm sure they could find someone to direct traffic around an accident scene while the certified deputies work the scene.
GOBAMA
I know firemen can run lights and sirens upon request of the sheriff or police chief, but what i'm sayin is are they compensated for the fuel they use responding to an emergency, I think if you ask around they are not!!!!! They do it out of their pockets, the policemen and deputies drive on fuel paid for by their agencies!!! All i'm sayin is they should have to do the same it does not make it fair for our county and city firemen. They have families to provide for just as the policemen do, the county should look into it was all I was saying. I do respect our peace officers and think they do a A+ JOB, but we are in times of crunch and things must change.As for working multiple calls for the police and sheriff's??? Just do your best things happen, and we all have to judge on what is most important, who's to say we want have multiple fires in the city or county?? The fire dept. calls for mutual aid and has other counties cover for them maybe the police should do the same.
I know deputies and police officers have a dangerous job, and appreciate that they put their lives on the line every day. I work in Tullahoma and have many times seen a marked Bedford Co. patrol car in Coffee Co. I would like to know why? Since I have seen this car on numerous occasions for the past year, I find it hard to believe it is offical police business. How much money is being wasted? There is their raise. And how much county taxpayer money is being used to house illegal immigrants who break the law? Why not deport them instead of fine them and release them back into population to commit more crimes? There's their raise. Yes, I could make more money in Rutherford or Davidson County too, but I'm not going to make the drive to do so, putting miles on my car, and using precious fuel. Look at the counties comparable to us in size and population and compare their salaries. I could make more money in Colorado or California too, but I'd pay more for housing, food, and yes, fuel.
i think these guys should get paid better than what they do. they do put there life in harms way when they deal with the thugs of bedford county. been alot of good officers killed in the line of duty and made less money i cant blame them for wanting better paying jobs. our taxes should go for the officers so they can get more money instead of creasing the palms of the ones that sit behind a desk and push pencils all day. when these officers leave there homes they dont know if they are going to make it back to there families or not when there shift ends. i respect what these men and women are doing for our county. the sheriffs department does have it alittle harder and they answer more calls than the city so i think they need more money than what they get paid. they have to serve the warrants on the people and that is a dangerous job. great job guys and girls. mr. lowman try to get the guys and girls more money they need it and earned it.
Every department has to cut cost during this hard economic time. Why is the emphasis on the raises for the employees when there are several other catagories the sheriffs dept. could trim and give the employees a cost of living raise. I would like to point out that the taxpayers are paying alot more for gas and everything else we buy right now and most of us will not get a raise this year just because of that. Everyone has known you can drive to Rutherford county and make a bit more money but spend alot more on gas and fight the traffic. If people are in that type public service job for the money only do they need to be there? If you know them, you see that they have several other things they do to make money while on duty and are suppose to be protecting us. I wonder how come the ones at the top who don't have to have the income but want the status on their resume do not cut their pay way down and give the employees who are doing the work and do not have other sources of income a raise. Is there any way to cut out the I buy only from my friends at whatever price and do some price shopping on every dollar you spend Larry? I say get someone in there who was not born into money like a single parent who has had to budget, scrimp, and can shop smart for everything the county buys next year and see how fast they can give the deserving employees a good raise. Just my opinion.
I don't know if this is so..But these other counties that pay more..is it because they are a bigger county than Bedford...That is why they can pay them more ???
That was not a slam on the Sheriff, just was asking questions about all the leaders. I know that I see all the politicians before they get elected, but most just disappear until it is time for the next election.
I understand from some of the volunteer firefighters that VFSI decided that volunteers would not use lights in Bedford County, but like you said, they do in other counties, because TCA says they can.
TopsyTurvy has a good idea about having a referendum. This should answer everyone's questions. I would stand with the vote, which ever way the vote goes. Let the voters speak, and if I was a Commissioner, I sure wouldn't say no to the voters about having a referendum.
Lower Taxes Please:
The Sheriff does get out and work, but when he is an administrator he is not always available to answer calls. He, much like the City Police Chief- Fire Chief- Head CEO of a company has many meetings and other issues that they have to deal with to keep their department working and functioning as smoothly as possible. I've seen the Sheriff out many times in the county working and dealing with the public like any leader would. When was the last time you saw Chief Swing out answering calls? That is not a slam on him, but an honest question. I see him drive to the office and thats about it. I'm sure being the leader there is plenty work for him to do- tons of paperwork I would imagine.
As far as to answer your question on volunteer vehicles: IF it is a personal vehicle then it would not have the Fire Department stickers on it and they are allowed by TCA 55-9-201:
Members of regular or volunteer fire departments may equip their privately owned vehicles to be used in responding to a fire alarm or other emergency with warning devices approved by the local fire chief, upon written certification to the local sheriff or police chief that such person is a member of such department. In the event such warning devices are abused or used for other than their intended purpose by a member of the fire department, the local fire chief shall revoke such member's privilege of using such warning devices and shall notify, in writing, the local sheriff or police chief of such revocation.
it seems everywhere we turn, there are people that want to cut throats to save money. for the most part i read where employees or people defending them complain about money and benefits. commissioners did what they THOUGHT was best for the county. and the employees despise them for it. maybe this all should go before a county referendum during the upcoming election. then if it passes to the approval of a raise, then the employees can stand proud and say "we told you so!!". But what if it failed? then what?? its the peoples money, let them have the say. that would be intersting. how would the people vote knowing that if they knew thier vote of YES, would guarantee a tax increase. i just don't think anyone would vote YES for a tax increase or they would had voted in a wheel tax a few years back.
this vote would resolve atleast 2 issues. 1. we would know if the commissioners have correctly done as the citizens in thier distrcts wanted them too. 2. emplyees would know what the public thinks of them.
gobama
Where is the Sheriff during all of this? I never hear anyone talk about the leaders during all of this. Don't they ever go out and do anything? Maybe we need to get rid of all the leaders and give the people that are doing the work a raise?
Are you sure that most of the firefighters that drive their vehicles around to places are volunteer firefighters and they are allowed to have red and yellow lights on their vehicles???
I know that they use to, but it has been a long time since I have seem any of them running lights.
topflight- Try to take this scenario in to account:
3 deputies on shift to cover a whole county (sometimes that is all they have) Deputy 1 on a transport of a prisoner to another county. Deputy 2 taking a report of child abuse and deputy 3 tied up on a accident involving injuries (cause if you haven't noticed there are not many troopers around to work wrecks cause they are short-handed as well). Then a call goes out of a 3 vehicle crash involving injuries and people are trapped in vehicles- it is close to shift change and you have 2 other deputies- not on duty yet, but on their way to work- IF they are in their patrol cars they can head immediately to the crash. IF they do like you say and have to go by the office to get the cars then lives could be lost. Or if the officers on duty have to respond- who goes? Do you give up taking the report of child abuse and risk more happening to the child? OR do you leave the other crash scene and take the chance on your EMS and Fire Crews getting hit by a passing motorist becuase the deputy that was helping direct traffic left?
Most of the firefighters I know that drive their vehicles around to places are volunteer firefighters and they are allowed to have red and yellow lights on their vehicles. Police and Deputies cannot have blue lights on their personal vehicles and if they are on their way to work would then have no way to respond running code "blue lights and sirens without causing a big liabilty. And to think if that is allowed how many police impersonators there would be if they could have blue lights?
I have NEVER said I didn't appreciate the Fire Services in the city and county. All county workes- Deputies, EMS, and Fire have the same crappy benefits and go through the same rough times. I appreciate EVERY POLICE,DEPUTY, FIRE FIGHTER, EMS worker very much. Without them some of us would not be alive. And the ones in Bedford County are giving their lives to protect Bedford County and all its residents even the ones who tell them to go across the border and find another job in another county.
As far as sharing a car- sometimes that would work out in a perfect world and othertimes you could have the deputies on shift tied up on an incident like controlling the scene like a few weeks ago when the missing woman's body was located and you would have deputies ready for shift sitting at the office waiting on a car. What do they do then- walk to their calls? You can't have the guys leave the scene to swap cars because then that would be a big mess up if someone got to the scene that shouldn't be there and destroyed evidence.
And I am very aware of gas being $4 a gal I drive everday.
I think all of our policemen and deputies do a great job, however this goes for GOBAMA, when you talk about them having their cars with them and it saves time and lives to have their equipment with them at their homes, I understand what your saying but as everyone is well aware fuel is over $4/ gal! I do not think it's right for these officers to drive back and forth from work(most drive more than 10 miles one way) on the city and county fuel.There are officers on duty that are capable of driving to where ever a call is to assist people that need them.That's a huge cost for both, after thinking about this i've thought about our public servants- Firemen- why do these guys not get to take a fire truck home? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to save time and lives ,too. Firefighters drive their personal vehicles to fires all over the county as well as the city using their own gas, insurance, tires, wear and tear on their vehicle!I guess we don't realize sometimes the small things some of these guys do for their community. So I think it would make more economic sense to keep the vehicles at the station, just think if they shared cars how much it would save both departments! Half the cars gone, wow thats alot of money put back in the budget and a alot of happy taxpayers!
If the city can work it into their budget to give their employees raises, why can't the county? They deserve the same respect. They are out there risking their lives just like city officers and deserve a whole lot more than they are getting. I cannot help but believe that the county can't afford a better insurance plan for their employees, let alone a little cost of living raise. Thank you, city council, for your support.
They are WAY too many aspects in each of the previous responses that I could spend all night and all of the T-G's resources on this page if I were to try to address them all. I will just touch on a couple or so.
Gobama, Steelerfan is right that local law enforcement do get food discounts in almost all of the local eateries, including the chain fast food places. But Steelerfan, this is a "perk", and in my opinion a well-deserved one, for the fine job that these fine men and women do to protect and serve our fine community.
As a former employee of the county, in conjunction with law enforcement, I can say the benefits are TERRIBLE! I had the same benefits as they did while in my previous position.
Steelerfan, What does your military past and current employment have to do with the GREAT job law enforcement does for EVERYONE of us? Yes, it is a choice and several of our officers also went to school, on their dime, to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Gobama, GREAT point on why it is so important that our officers take their patrol cars home. I can speak for several of them, city police, county deputies and state troopers alike, that they begin work almost immediately upon entering their cars each morning before their assigned shift actually begins. We hear no complaints when they do this and in a lot of cases are not getting paid for their extra time. Simply put these officers jobs actually begin as soon as their uniforms are on and well before they have the chance to be "clocked in" for their shift.
The only thing that I can offer as what should have happened compared to what happened and is happening, is why did the county go with the Dodge Chargers as new patrol cars? I realize they get some sort of discount for not only buying them in bulk but also for using a certain dealership, but there had to be a more economical solution to the Charger. Time will tell if these cars hold as well as the good ol' "Crown Vic".
To stare with let me say Thank You to the men and women that put their life on the line to protect us every day.
I understand that every thing from the gas in our tanks to the food we eat has gone sky high in the last year and with that the cost to run all county programs has also shot way up and can understand them not giving a pay increase this year. I can fulley understand how this will stran their buget at home I work for one of the largest employers in Shelbyville and have not had a raise in 4 years so I do understand their pain BUT when it comes to their insurance the County needs to step up and pay the increase for them. As I said I have not received a raise in 4 years and have been offered 2 better paying jobs in the last year. What keeps me where I am is a damn good insurance plain.
If the County wants to keep these good people they must step up and pay the increase for them.
By not increasing their pay while increasing their insurance cost you are cutting their pay!!
With out that I can't see why any of them would want to stay.
Yes it would be good to SEE how many of our tax dollars are being spent on illegals to include their offspring.
One aspect seldom looked at are the non-profits here in town and the county. How much of their budgets are going to illegals ??
Politicians keep putting out the bunk that they are here 'to do jobs Americans wont do'. What a total crock !! Look around town at ANY construction site. Anyone actually visited Tysons lately ??
Legal immigrants always seem to learn the language of their new home and adapt to the customs of their new homeland. Illegals very, very seldom do.
Been to any store around town lately ? Seems like the yelling, running and fighting kids quite seldom speak english either.
Find yourself staring down the barrel of a gun and then see how you feel about those that serve. They are out of sight and out of mind until you need them.
These special people deserver our respect, our support and our tax dollars to compensate them for the sacrifices they make to protect our property, our families, our lives.
Thanks gobama....
You said the few things that I forgot!
I have several friends that are in law enforcement. I can not believe that they make such a low salary. And I know first hand how bad their health insurance is. How dare anyone speek so poorly about the men and women who are here to protect us day in and day out. And Mr. Military....I respect you for the choice that you made, but the fact is these people dont do this job for the money or the discounts that they get on their food bills. Some do it because they want to help make a difference in Bedford County. It amazes me how little some people think about each other these days. These men and women shouldn't have to ask for better pay or better insurance. It should just be there. They risk their lives every day for all that live in Bedford County. And if everyone took a job just because of how much it paid, there would be alot more to worry about than this.
steelerfan- how do you know they get discounts? Just cause you see them eating at certain places much like the police department does-doesn't mean they get a discount- it may mean that they trust the people enough there to fix their food without doing something to it- or maybe it is just the simple fact that they are people and like to eat too!
Don't get me wrong the military is great for some people. I went to school too and I paid my way through it- so wow give me a freakin' cookie!! What does going to school have to do with the Sheriff's Department? And if you got school paid for by the military, then I'm sure there was some housing, some food and other things paid for as well. Military health benefits are a lot better than what Bedford County has.
So are you saying that all of our deputies need to leave and join the military to feel like they are getting something for their work? If they do then you will have a department full of new, inexperienced deputies trying to protect the
people of Bedford County.
What is all the fluff you are talking about getting rid of? And how would you like it if a disaster hit bedford county and you needed deputies there quick and some of them live way out in the county, maybe even down the road from you, but they have to report to the office first to get their car before they can take a call. Cause their personal vehicles don't have lights and radios in them. So they would have to pass you up and go all the way in town- get their car- then drive back out to help you. Think of the time that could be lost and lives lost if they had to do this. (That goes for county and city officers) The cars are needed for emergency response- times are much quicker if they have everything they need at their house with them!
I have an idea to raise money for the sheriff's department while recognizing the sacrifice that they and their families have to undertake. How about a HUGE town block party like we used to have? With roadblocks, music, beer, and food, people would have a great time and donate wads of money to the department.
Oh my goodness I know they are not complaining about pay. Look, I have all kinds of payments too, but I went to school. Yes, it costs to go to college but I did not pay a dime. Military!!!!! That I am also still in. I don't complain about pay in there and it is a heck of a lot worse than 30,000 a year to start, and we really get shot at and go without our families for a year at a time. Jobs are our choice. I am so sorry that people make choices an than complain about the choice they made. Live with it. Maybe if they would drive to work keep the county and city cars at the stations and get rid of all the fluff, they could get a raise. By the way they get enough food discounts in town to more than make up the difference.
Amen Soccermom! I would like to see the line-item budget for Bedford County. It would be interesting to see how much money this county is making and where it is being spent. For instance, how much local funding is paying for headstart programs for illegals? How much money is being spent on translators for the county because so many people here don't speak English? Unfortunately, it takes a deputy dying for people to finally see how our Sheriff's Deputies get neglected. As a community we need to at least make these guys' jobs easier. Be more understanding and curteous. Offer your assistance whenever you can. We support our troops, lets support our local law enforcement too! These guys are literally on the frontlines in our own backyards. They may be all that stands between you and a rapist, burglary, or robbery. They deserve every ounce of respect we can give them. Maybe we need to start a local booster organization to hold fund raisers to supplement the SO's budget. Maybe then we could at least upgrade their gear and vehicles so the county can afford to give them raises or pay more on their insurance.
I have a family member who works with the sheriff dept locally. It's hard to watch him do so much work and not get near enough in return. Not enough credit & recognition, terrible benefit premiums for his family, & not enough pay. The economy has gone down the toilet and now we have to worry about not being able to rely on the local law enforcement agencies to take care of us the way they need to b/c they are so worried about tightening a budget. Which is more important... protecting your local people or pinching a penny? The county's choice is obvious and very sad. There are plenty of other ways to save the county some money right now. We have to do something better about taking care of our officers and their families. Lord knows we don't want or need families taking matters into their own hands around here!!!! This town really needs to shape up & rearrange it's priorities.