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County law enforcement employees raise concerns Cite manpower shortage, old technology, low pay, lack of vacation carryover
When the Bourbon County Commissioners returned from their lunch break Tuesday, they faced nearly all of the sheriff's office and jail employees.
The employees shared issues they say are hampering their work -- low wages, the vacation policy, lack of technology and shortage of manpower.
The commissioners listened, asked questions, but did not settle on a solution.
"You're kind of in a dilemma," Commission Chair Barbara Albright said. "You've kind of got an emergency and we're trying to figure it out for you. We haven't really got it solved."
Undersheriff Ben Cole and Sheriff Bill Martin have met with commissioners at various times during the year to ask for sheriff's office employees to be allowed to carry over unused vacation. According to Cole and Martin, vacation time is not being used because the office has been short staffed.
On Nov. 3, Cole told commissioners the BCSO had two openings for deputies, with one of those positions being vacant since April. On Tuesday, Martin and Cole said one of those vacancies has been filled. On Thursday, Martin told the Tribune the BCSO has a prospect "in a few months" for the second vacancy.
In response to Albright's question about where the office is advertising, Cole said he has used a state organization's website, social media, and one local outlet.
On Nov. 3 and again Thursday, a random check made by the Tribune for law enforcement jobs in Kansas did not show an ad for a Bourbon County deputy position listed on websites mentioned during the meeting or other sites that appeared under that search criteria.
A correctional officer position is listed on the county's website.
On Thursday, Martin told The Tribune they are waiting until the end of the year to advertise to see what the commissioners decide about accepting a U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Service grant to partially fund the salary and benefits of an additional deputy.
"I'm just trying to help them," Albright said during the meeting. "The sheriff's office is coming to us with concerns that they can't find employees."
She said the commissioners are "heartsick" the employees are not taking their vacation. Martin said the real issue is the need for additional personnel -- an argument that has been made for many years, dating back to Ron Gray's term as sheriff, he said.
Southeast Kansas Correctional Center Jail Administrator Bobby Reed said he currently is fully staffed, but will soon be losing two or three employees.
"Barb, you can advertise them all you want, but if you don't pay them, they're not going to come," Deputy Skip Brown said.
Brown said he is currently working part-time, but with the exception of Martin, he has the most years with the office. Six years ago, he earned $10.60 per hour. He currently earns $11.21 per hour. He said there are people working in the courthouse who received $12 when they started.
"Where's the equality?" he asked.
He asked if the commissioners expect someone to work as a law enforcement officer -- who is subject to lawsuits and being shot at -- to work for $13 per hour when they can work elsewhere. Brown said the Fort Scott Police Department officers make more money.
The salary range for FSPD patrol officers is from a beginning hourly wage of $11.88 to $18 per hour, according to information from the city. That range does not include ranked officers.
At the county, a beginning deputy's hourly wage is $12.46 per hour, then goes up to $13.84 per hour. A part-time deputy earns $10.09 to start, and then goes to $11.21, according to information from the clerk's office.