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Sheriff: jurisdiction shift hurts
Meeks hopes new business license fees can help hire new deputy
Published Friday, November 28, 2008
Covington County Sheriff Dennis Meeks said the Andalusia City Council’s decision to abolish its police jurisdiction will only add to the workload of his understaffed and under funded department.
During last week’s Andalusia City Council meeting, Mayor Earl Johnson said the city was not abandoning the jurisdiction under all circumstances, adding that the police department will provide back up to the sheriff’s department under mutual aid agreements. It is a policy, Johnson said, that the fire department has already adopted.
“This does not mean folks within the former police jurisdiction would not have police protection,” he said. “The county sheriff is responsible for providing police protection in the county.”
The move is expected to save the city $50,000 per year; however, at present, the city collects approximately $30,000 in business license fees inside the police jurisdiction, and Meeks said he hopes to see the Covington County Commission dedicate a portion of that increase in revenue to funding more patrol deputies.
“It’s going to add several more square miles of area we are going to have to respond to,” Meeks said. “We ask that the citizens of Covington County, if they have a call coming from anywhere within the county, please be patient. We’ll respond as quickly as we can.”
Meeks said the CCSO currently has 12 road deputies on staff.
“And those are patrolmen that cover this county 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year,” he said. “From what I understand there is approximately $30,000 in revenue that’s collected from that area (current jurisdiction). If that’s the case, I hope the county commission sees fit to use that money or a portion of that money for an extra officer.”
Meeks said the county is one of the largest in the state, and as such he doesn’t feel as if there are enough deputies to cover the area as, “I’d like to see it done.”
“At minimum, I’d say we need 16,” he said. “There’s just no way that I could meet that payroll. You’re looking at another $140,000 to $150,000, and the money’s just not there.”
It’s a constant theme for the financially struggling county, which is looking for ways to increase revenue and cut expenditures. However, Meeks said he believed he had found a way to not only give his employees a raise but also maybe add an additional officer — the federal inmate-housing contract with the U.S. Marshals.
The contract was implemented in August and accomplished with the help of the county’s jail administrator, Preston Hughes. Under the contract’s terms, the county is paid a rate of $45 per day per federal inmate and plus a transportation fee of $24 per hour plus mileage when transporting inmates.
It is estimated by county officials that 20 inmates per day will be housed under the agreement, which equates to approximately $324,000 per year. The monies collected will be divided 50-50 between the sheriff’s office and the county’s general fund.
“Our whole purpose of seeking out this contract was to be able to bring in revenue into this sheriff’s office,” he said. “We worked on getting this contract for over a year because we wanted to find a way that would help take some of the burden off the commission when we needed things at the sheriff’s office and the jail.”
Additionally, a portion of the funds is being set aside to cover raises for current employees of the sheriff’s office and jail, Meeks said.
During this week’s commission meeting when he was questioned about the current pay scale for deputies and jail personnel, Meeks said his agency is currently paying anywhere from $1.50 to $2 less than other agencies — both local and statewide.
“There is no other avenue for this department to generate revenue,” he said. “Our officers make decisions every day and every night that affect peoples lives. No other county department does that. Our guys should be compensated for those decisions they have to make.”
At Tuesday’s commission meeting, county administrator Brenda Petty said the sheriff had agreed to hold off giving those employees raises until January.
The ordinance abolishing the jurisdiction will become effective Jan. 1, 2009.
Comments
Posted by hdsd (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is so true, The city and the pulling back of its limits, has not only affected the way they will work, but as well the response of the county. The days of the good ole boys days are long gone, the crimes being committed as well the need of more law enforcement on the roads affect not just the city,but the large county that must be patrolled. The lack of concern of those within the city limits, or shall I say , those in charge. YET you see them, the city officers going out of town, doing as they want. They won't arrest those on county/state warrants I understand,they will detain them yet a deputy has to come from where ever they may be, and pick that subject up and take them to the county jail,The warrant data base is so large (BY THE WAY THE CITY SHOULD RE-OPEN THEIR JAIL SHERIFF, and see how much they would save,that I understand they wanted and are now complaining about, due to cost of housing them, re-do their contract and se what happens) .and alot of us don't understand or know that they the deputies are expected to serve these warrants as well of the civil papers that they get and along with their trips for Probate, Department Youth services. etc. Then still get the standard calls, ie, civil that Andalusia won't touch. The need of more deputies is long past due, the Sheriff is the one responsible,yet he and his staff can only go so far. Citizens take a look at the community were you live and be pro-active. Things are happening, and we are allowing it to. Times are as well getting worse as most know. Sheriff you are doing a good job, but you need more support from the cities around you as well. This is not to hire those under you, by getting out of their contracts, under the cities waiting for them, so that they don't have to repay you for their training ,and then offer them better pay and fringes to come to them. The deputies are restricted on their pay and benifits. Then they become disgrunted and leave due to lack of concern they feel from the commision, as you have stated they make tough decisions daily, but are not being taken care of by those they strive to serve and protect. Commissioners need to wake up and see the roses, before its to late.Yes they are not there for the money, but they must be able to survive and take care of their families, and the need of more deputies and better pay, is so much needed. Don't complain when it takes awhile to get to you on simple calls, yet an emergency to them at the time of calling. That deputy has to go across one of the largest counties in Alabama to get to you. Keep up the hard work that you do ,it is needed and respected by most. You can do it, be safe and rememeber why one is in law enforcment is to serve and protect those within the community.
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