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Emergency Meeting Held to Discuss Sheriff’s Department Deputy Pay

The Columbia County Finance Committee convened an emergency meeting on August 21 at 12 p.m. to address the issue of deputy pay within the Sheriff’s Department.

Justice of the Peace Jeremy Langley emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that “extenuating circumstances have necessitated the discussion of deputy sheriffs.”

Langley highlighted the recent pay raise of $50,000 for officers in the Magnolia Police Department (MPD), as well as comparable wages offered by the city of El Dorado and the starting salary of $54,000 for Arkansas State Troopers.

Langley disclosed that since the pay raise was implemented, the sheriff has been informed by four officers about their intention to leave. One officer is transferring to the MPD, another to the Taylor Police Department, one is joining the state troopers, and the fourth is retiring.

Furthermore, Langley expressed concerns about the potential retirement of more deputies in the coming years.

Addressing the issue, Sheriff Leroy Martin approached Langley, requesting a pay increase for deputies to $50,000. Langley proposed a compromise of $48,000 for the time being.

Martin asserted that it is essential to attract top-notch individuals to maintain the safety of Columbia County. He emphasized the importance of remaining competitive with other counties and cities in the surrounding area to recruit the best candidates.

Langley noted that the projected county funds for the year are higher than anticipated, indicating the county’s ability to afford a raise in deputy pay.

Justice of the Peace Annette Pate questioned why the pay raise was not set at $50,000 if the funds allowed for it. Langley supported the idea, stating that there is no reason not to raise the pay to $50,000, but he believed $48,000 would be easier to attain from a sales perspective.

Justice of the Peace Sam Sharp conveyed his support for Pate and Langley, highlighting that the median income countywide is around $58,000 and most residents are not exposed to hazardous situations. Sharp advocated for increasing the pay to $50,000.

Former sheriff and Justice of the Peace Mike Loe also voiced his desire for better retention pay in addition to the pay increase for deputies.

Justice of the Peace Lynn Story raised the question of whether surrounding counties faced similar staffing issues and if their pay scales aligned with Columbia County’s current rates. Sheriff Martin responded by mentioning that other sheriffs in Ouachita and Union counties had acknowledged encountering similar problems related to pay.

Suggesting a solution, Story recommended recruiting deputies from the neighboring counties if the pay increase was implemented in Columbia County.

However, Justice of the Peace Penny Cook expressed her reservations about changing the pay structure six weeks before the commencement of budget meetings for 2024. Cook stressed that while officer pay raises were undoubtedly necessary, other county issues should also be addressed during the budget meetings. Earlier in the year, the quorum court had expressed its intention to consider all county salary increases concurrently.

In response, Langley argued that the loss of deputies constituted an emergency situation, emphasizing the challenge of recruiting and retaining officers without a salary hike.

As the meeting drew to a close, the committee concluded by recommending the passage of an ordinance to increase deputy pay during the September Quorum Court meeting.

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