Sheriff Seeks Funding For Two Deputies
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Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch and deputy Jerry Ferguson (right side) confer with Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum about the benefits of changing to 12-hour shifts for deputies. Sheriff Gooch told supervisors he needed to add two more deputies to his roster to make the shift change.
WATER VALLEY – Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch is requesting funding to hire two additional deputies to boost his department’s roster to eight full-time patrol officers. Speaking in Monday’s Board of Supervisor meeting, the sheriff explained the added manpower would allow his department to change to a different shift schedule that would bring 24-hour law enforcement coverage in the county and help with deputy retention.
Gooch initially warned supervisors during a meeting last month that more funding will be needed after two deputies left his department to work for the Water Valley Police Department. The sheriff explained that the salary was not the reason the two deputies went to work for the city.
“My guys are working every weekend,” Sheriff Gooch explained.
Former chief deputy Jerry Ferguson accompanied the sheriff to Monday’s meeting at the Water Valley courthouse. Ferguson, who now works part-time for the sheriff’s department, explained that eight full-time patrol deputies would allow the utilization of a three-two shift commonly used by neighboring law enforcement agencies. Deputies would work two 12-hour shifts, followed by two days off duty; work three consecutive 12-hour shifts, followed by two days off duty; and work two consecutive 12-hour shifts, follow by three days off duty during a 14 day cycle.
Ferguson said utilizing this shift would allow deputies, jailers and dispatchers to have a three-day weekend every other weekend. He also told supervisors that the shift would require the county to change to a 28-day pay cycle include of the current monthly pay schedule.
Ferguson also noted that the shift change would reduce the number of comp time hours deputies and dispatcher typically accrue, another problem for the current work schedule. He reported the cost of hiring two additional deputies, counting benefits, will be $104,000.
“I know that is a lot of money, but our deputies are working every weekend. We have a guy with 20 years of experience working every weekend. This way they could have every other weekend off to be with their family. I think we are going to keep losing people unless we go to this,” Ferguson added. “Most police departments are using this 3-2 shift.”
Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum also attended Monday’s meeting and confirmed that utilization of the three-two shift is a better option.
“Twelve hour days are a benefit, it allows 24 hour coverage,” Mangrum said about his department that is budgeted for 10 full-time officers including two school resource officers. “It cuts down on overtime or comp time. Attending court is still going to cause overtime or comp time, you can’t help that,” the chief noted about officers attending court .
Comp Time Discussion
The discussion also shifted to the county’s current policy of employees accruing comp time when they work overtime hours during a pay cycle. Yalobusha EMA Director Stewart Spence recommended changing the county’s policy to paying overtime hours during each pay period, allowing employees to be paid for total hours worked instead of accruing comp time hours. Spence and Deputy EMA Director Jarred Logan oversee the county’s dispatchers.
Spence explained that dispatchers do not receive the pay for overtime hours worked during the monthly pay cycle until they max out the total number of comp time hours that can be accrued, or in a lump sum if they leave the job.
“We are short-handed. Everybody knows we are short-handed. The employees don’t want to work extra hour because if they are not topped out with comp time, they are working extra hours without getting paid for it. Because they are not getting money in their pocket for that month. That is the problem we are having, if we pay overtime and they receive that extra money in their check, they are more apt to come in to work,” Spence explained.
“I agree with that,” District 4 Supervisor Eddie Harris said.
Both Gooch and Spence noted that paying out the comp time in a lump sum when employees leave employment with the county is difficult to budget for.
“You can pay overtime instead of comp time, which is what a lot of counties are doing,” District 5 Supervisor Gaylon Gray said. “We would have to have a policy change in the (employee) handbook.”
Supervisors tabled the requests for additional discussion until the next meeting on Feb. 18.
“I think we are in favor of what y’all are requesting,” Harris added.
