Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Signs First Collective Bargaining Agreement With $70k Starting Salary For New Deputies

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) signed a collective bargaining agreement with the Board of County Commissioners at the July 7 meeting. This was the department’s first collective bargaining agreement in its history, which Sheriff Ricky Cox said would have impacts on recruiting.

“It not only benefits our office, but our deputies and their families. They do a lot in this community,” Cox said. He added that the staff and his office worked to make sure the contract was competitive and it would be vital to supporting officers and recruiting new officers. In particular, Cox said it would be helpful for convincing homegrown talent to join the department rather than going to nearby counties for more money or opportunities.

All salary adjustments will be applicable July 1 of this year.

The starting salary for a deputy in CCSO will now be $70,000 annually. This is the same as St. Mary’s County and Charles County. Calvert Fraternal Order of Police President Sgt. Luis Kelly said that the department was “behind” other departments on health care and retirement as well, and those were priorities in this contract.

All the salary adjustments in this agreement were included in the FY27 budget, and County Administrator Linda Turner said there would be no additional impacts to the budget. The contract will be negotiated every two years and has an “open clause” in case something comes up that needs addressing before those two years are up.

“We thank you for all you do, we’re the safest county in the state and we’ll continue to support you,” Commissioner Earl Hance said.

“Safest county in Maryland, and it’s because of our sheriff’s deputies and the leadership of our sheriff,” Commissioner Catherine Grasso agreed. “I’m glad our sheriff’s deputies have what they deserve.”

The agreement passed in a 3-0 vote. Commissioners Mark Cox and Mike Hart recused themselves from the vote.

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