Deputy pay push continues

State legislators haven’t given up hope on a proposed statewide pay hike for sheriff’s deputies, despite a stalled earlier effort.

House Bill 2224 would among other things create a “Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund,” paid for through a $10 addition to sheriff’s service fees, to aid poorer counties in keeping deputies’ salaries competitive.

The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Kenny Jones, R-California, didn’t start out as a funding bill. Jones’ bill initially only changed the way law enforcement officers could take required racial profiling courses, shifting from one required hour of education per year to three hours every three years.  

That bill made it out of the House and over to the Senate, where legislators tacked on provisions creating the fund before sending the bill back to the House for consideration.

Jones said he favors the change.

“I’m very supportive of it, so it was a favorable amendment to the bill. I think it would be something to aid real law enforcement,” he said.
A bill introduced earlier this session by Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, would have created a similar supplementary fund but has been stalled in a House committee since April.

At issue is deputy pay throughout the state. According to the Missouri Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the average annual salary for a deputy in Missouri is $22,262. Deputies in 91 of Missouri’s 114 counties receive starting salaries so low that they are eligible for some sort of public aid, according to the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association.

While Pettis County pay is above the state average, it still falls below city law enforcement salaries. Starting pay for a Sedalia officer is $30,152, versus $24,752 for the county.

Pettis County Sheriff Kevin Bond, a supporter of Griesheimer’s earlier effort, said earlier this disparity creates a situation where the Sheriff’s Department serves as “training ground,” for deputies who start at the department then leave for better pay.

“This has been the Missouri Sheriffs (Association’s) top priority for the year,” Bond said, adding he, his staff and fellow sheriffs made several trips to Jefferson City to speak with legislators on behalf of the fund.

Bond said Monday he was impressed with the dedication legislators have shown.

“I think that there was definite dedication on the part of Sen.  Griesheimer and the interim Senate Committee that looked into the deputy sheriffs’ salary situation,” Bond said, citing Griesheimer’s work to get the fund provisions added to Jones bill as an example. “I applaud the senators as well as Rep. Jones for their dedication to seeing that this bill becomes law.”

Jones said he didn’t think any changes would come out of a house conference scheduled for Monday evening.

“It’ll probably be sent to the floor like it is,” he said.

Jones said he thought the chances were “very good” the bill would be heard and passed before this year’s session ends Friday.

Bond also seemed hopeful about the bill’s prospects. “I think this is the year — if it’s going to happen, it’ll happen, and if not then I think our chances of getting legislation passed will be greatly reduced.”