La Plata, MD – Just as the Charles County Sheriff’s Office was basking in the glow of a discussion earlier in the day about forming a collective bargaining agreement with county leaders, the Charles County Commissioners threw the officers a wicked curve ball Tuesday, Oct. 28 at their weekly meeting.
The commissioners were set to vote on proposed legislation to remove the financial duties of the elected sheriff over his own officers, including rank advancements and step pay increases, and place it under the county purview. The measure was tabled for 10 days to allow for comment prior to taking a vote.
“Primarily the bill sets salary steps and ranks for deputy sheriffs,” explained Charles County Attorney Barbara Holtz. “As opposed to being in county code, it allows it to become part of the budget process.”
The proposed legislation would also set forth ranks from new recruits to lieutenant colonel and provides for 18 salary steps within each rank, Holtz said.
The measure is causing a rift between county leaders and its uniformed officers, who complained that officers are leaving the ranks and seeking employment with other agencies as a fallout of the department being denied step pay increases for the past four years.
The measure would also be retroactive, something that has galled officers to no end.
“I’d like to commend Commissioner Ken Robinson for voting against this proposed legislation,” Barbara Talcott stated. “When I heard about this proposed legislation, it was quite shocking to me that you are going to take over something the sheriff’s department is supposed to do. Making it retroactive is absurd,” Talcott added. “We already pay them less than they could make elsewhere.
“Many of our police officers go up to the Capital or state police after training, because they know they can make better money and get their advancements,” she said. “You’re going to have trouble maintaining officers with this legislation.”
Sgt. Bob Keisel of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office told the commissioners that they are trying to circumvent a law that was put in place in 1970 to insure that deputies received a competitive wage.
“Every county administration has been able to deal with that,” Keisel said. “This board of commissioners did not follow the law that’s been in place for 44 years.”
“The way this legislation was brought about was underhanded,” said Charles County Fraternal Order of Police President John Elliott, pointing out that there is no bill number or sponsor listed on the proposed legislation. “Now, you’re asking us to trust you completely, yet the law was broken previously and forced us to file a lawsuit. We’re prepared to take action to try and stop this from moving forward. We can’t have legislation put in where we don’t have a leg to stand on.”
Officer Jonathan Palmer, representing the correctional officers at the county jail, told the commissioners they are opposed to the legislation, stating that officers are “at least four steps behind on the pay scale. Supervisors are an additional one step behind.”
“My annual salary, there was $7,000 lost last year because of being denied a step increase,” Palmer said. “I’ve lost $24,000 in base salary alone over the last seven years. Others have suffered losses beyond what mine are.
“It becomes extremely difficult to keep a disciplined and well-trained staff,” he pointed out. “We are currently at least eight officers short of where we should be. Officers with eight, four, seven, seven and eight years of tenure have left the agency. Others are seeking other employment on a daily basis.”
Michael Sokoloff, vice president of the FOP, said he wanted to express “more than anything how disappointed I am about what Mr. Robinson described as ambush tactic of this legislation. When we signed on, there was an agreement in the county code. All of that is plainly laid out in the county code. Now we’re taking a step back and putting the cart before the horse.
“We’ve been pushing for collective bargaining for several years,” Sokoloff added. “By removing us from the state police pay scale you are removing the only safety net that exists for us. Within 25 miles of Charles County there are 150 law enforcement agencies with better pay. Please put this off until we can work out collective bargaining,” he pleaded.
As the commissioners were preparing to vote on the issue, the question arose as to whether the comment period should be left open for 30 days, which started a flurry of activity resulting in the board recessing for a closed session, then re-emerging with Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly asking if commissioners wanted to hold the record open for 10 days since the board has a limited number of days to meet before the new board takes the oath of office.
Commissioner Debra Davis moved to keep the record open for 10 days and Commissioner Reuben Collins seconded the motion.
“I will vote to keep this open for 10 days to keep us from approving this tonight,” Robinson said.
Talcott, the first speaker at the public hearing, said the commissioners are doing their best to circumvent county code, which should remain in place.
“The sole reason for this legislation is to prevent that lawsuit from going forward,” she said.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com