| News and information for Lewis County, Kentucky! |
Sheriff's deputies get pay raise
Tuesday, June 12, 2007: Lewis County Sheriff's Deputies were granted pay raises at Monday's
meeting of the Lewis County Fiscal Court.
Sheriff Bill Lewis pointed out the difficulty his department has as a result of low pay. He noted
that one deputy had already left to work with the city, where pay was higher and full health
insurance is offered. Also, another deputy will be retiring in November.
He explained that his deputies are certified officers, undergoing extensive specialized
training, which qualify them to work for any law enforcement agency in the state. This makes it
very difficult to recruit and retain qualified deputies.
Lewis pointed out that his department works 95% of the accident scenes and completes most
of the criminal investigations in circuit court
The deputies face life and death situations every day, Lewis said, pointing to domestic
violence calls as an example. He said other agencies routinely dispatch two officers to such
calls but his department can send only one due to lack of officers. In May alone, the sheriff's
department responded to 98 domestic violence calls, and served six domestic violence and
emergency protective orders.
Lewis asked that deputies' salary be raised to at least what county truck drivers earn.
Magistrates voted unanimously to raise pay $1.12 an hour, from $9.88 to $11.
Magistrates also approved the hiring of Byron Powers as a deputy sheriff with specific duties
as bailiff to the courts, to replace Alan Richmond who is retiring.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007: Lewis County Sheriff's Deputies were granted pay raises at Monday's
meeting of the Lewis County Fiscal Court.
Sheriff Bill Lewis pointed out the difficulty his department has as a result of low pay. He noted
that one deputy had already left to work with the city, where pay was higher and full health
insurance is offered. Also, another deputy will be retiring in November.
He explained that his deputies are certified officers, undergoing extensive specialized
training, which qualify them to work for any law enforcement agency in the state. This makes it
very difficult to recruit and retain qualified deputies.
Lewis pointed out that his department works 95% of the accident scenes and completes most
of the criminal investigations in circuit court
The deputies face life and death situations every day, Lewis said, pointing to domestic
violence calls as an example. He said other agencies routinely dispatch two officers to such
calls but his department can send only one due to lack of officers. In May alone, the sheriff's
department responded to 98 domestic violence calls, and served six domestic violence and
emergency protective orders.
Lewis asked that deputies' salary be raised to at least what county truck drivers earn.
Magistrates voted unanimously to raise pay $1.12 an hour, from $9.88 to $11.
Magistrates also approved the hiring of Byron Powers as a deputy sheriff with specific duties
as bailiff to the courts, to replace Alan Richmond who is retiring.