DELEGATION URGES MORE DEPUTY PAY

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department supporters crowded the County Commission chambers to lobby for more pay for law enforcement.

About 35 people, including most of the top-ranking officers of the department, attended the annual county budget hearing Thursday.

The $8.38 million 1998 county budget was adopted as presented by Auditor Weldon Macke, but a revision is due in January to account for actual 1997 receipts. At that time a change would be possible in the sheriff's budget.

Individuals who spoke about the dedication of officers and the need for more pay, especially for ranking officers, received rounds of applause.

After hearing their pleas, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said: "I feel like the Grinch who stole Christmas. It's not that bad."

Sheriff John Jordan has repeatedly requested increases in starting pay for deputies. The department had become a training ground for new officers and has trouble keeping patrol and communications employees, he has said. "We wanted to stop the revolving door," Jordan said.

Progress has been made, the sheriff said.

Patrol officers under the current budget would start at $19,039. But those increases caused a problem for ranking officers, whose pay didn't go up at the same rate. A sergeant's starting salary of $21,600 would be $2,561 higher than a starting patrolman.

"What's the incentive to stay?" asked Jordan. "We are looking for an equitable and fair salary table in the future."

The overall budget for department salaries went up 9.7 percent in 1997, and 8.9 percent in 1996. Those figures include added salaries for new staff and pay raises.

Prior to the budget hearing, Jones met privately with Jordan and his top officers to discuss pay. Initially, the budget included an 8.4 percent pay increase. Then the increase went to 10.59 percent and eventually 11.52 percent.

The commission also agreed to develop a law enforcement salary schedule separate from salaries of other county employees. Still, sheriff's department employees said actual salaries weren't satisfactory.

Lt. David James said, "If you are 20 percent underpaid, what does 9 percent do?"

A group of county residents has met twice looking for ways to support the sheriff's department. Many of the people attending Thursday's commission meeting attended those meetings.

Among those is Bob Schooley of Millersville. "As a citizen who relies on the sheriff's department, if we have the funds available, let's support them," he said.

John Clifton, formerly a county deputy, said: "You have to pay for good people. We need the older guys there to guide the new ones. Let's give these guys the money they really deserve."

Dan Drury, who at one time was a reserve officer for the sheriff's department, said: "I recommend for your benefit and for our benefit that you invest in these people. We have quality law enforcement, but I would like to see that expanded. And I would like to see these folks have a livable wage."

Rich Brazel said, "I'm scared Cape County is in danger of losing their key people."

"We don't want to be the highest paid, but we want an average salary," Jordan said.

Salary figures collected by the Sheriff's Department show that starting salaries for a sergeant in other 1st-class counties average $25,062. In Platte County, the salary is $29,000; in Cass County $22,748; in Cole County $27,500; and in Jasper County $21,000.

The proposal for Cape County was $21,600.

Jones said, "We will discuss the feeling of the people at the meeting and we appreciate their concerns. Our charge is to keep everything in perspective."