Local Government TV

Friday, March 25, 2022

Luzerne County Reported a Deputy Shortage, Too

Last week, deputy sheriffs presented a litany of complaints to Northampton County Council. Among them was the claim that the department is understaffed. Sheriff Rich Johnson admitted that 30 deputies and 2 lieutenants have left during his tenure. But he added that he's hired 26, and has promoted four lieutenants and five sergeants. He indicated that each deputy must attend a 19-week academy and pass a physical agility test. 

Luzerne County had the same problem last year. That Sheriff Department, which is slightly smaller than NorCo, saw 50 deputies leave since 2019.  

In Luzerne County, deputies were starting at $14.28 an hour in 2021. In NorCo, deputies start at about $24 per hour. 

24 comments:

  1. Costco is hiring (to start in the warehouse) at 24 dollars per hour and that includes $1.00 for shift differential. There are some school districts that are hiring bus drivers for $24.00 an hour. Well maybe driving school bus is just as talented as being a deputy

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  2. I just received yet another comment from the county employee who insists on using CAPSLICK. I warned you and decline to publish your comment. Besides, it’s factually inaccurate.

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    1. Is CAPSLICK something like capslock or like slapstick?

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  3. What is the Cap lock, rule?

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  4. A Deputy in NORCO starts at $23/hr. It's posted on the internal hiring papers. That is not a bad wage to start at, however that goes against what you have been posting about deputies making $60k a year. One of the complaints made by the deputies last week was that they do not receive steps and they remain stuck on that beginning salary for many years. They are stuck just like the rest of the county, with exception of administrators, at the starting rate. If I went through all that training I would expect a higher wage, but I didn't, so I don't. The guys and girls that have 19 weeks of training, strap on bullet proof vests, and are there to protect the public definitely deserve a little bit more than a warehouse employee.

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  5. Once again you show your true colors. You sit here and cry about how Lamont and all his boys deserve raises. But a regular employee thinks he deserves more you call him greedy. Nice how Lamont got to refurnaish his office. And just so happen to give his wife all his old furniture. Don't remember that going out county wide if anyone else needed an office. Just remember your friends deserve more and screw the county employees. But just keep being their mouth piece. Did you check on the COs ?

    Make sure you do the same comparison....

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  6. They average around $50-60k. I have been persuaded they deserve a bit more.

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  7. 9:21, I have always maintained that county employees should get more $. I have said so and continue to say so in just about every department. Don't forget that McClure vetoes a raise intended for him. He vetoed raises in the elections office. He is very cheap, as is every Exec I have encountered since the inception of home rule.

    I know nothing about him refurbishing his office. I am rarely on the third floor, which is where you must work.

    I presume that he had it sent to his wife's magistrate office and not to her personally. I will look into it bc this does have a faint whiff.

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  8. I delete comments from people who tend to use CAPSLOCK.

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  9. Luzerne County has 100,000 more people and our deputies get paid $10 more per hour. I vote pay cut!

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    1. If this is true, then they’re not employees. They’re indentured servants.

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  10. Hell I don't make 50000 regular pay after 10 years at NCP

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    1. Definitely not worth it. C.O.'s at one time was a very good job around here. They also had a very close standard to being a Police Officer. Not anymore. It is just another 'security' position just the Sheriff's are being called. Sad

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  11. Replies
    1. 30 OTs and made 56000. Racking in the cash. And he didn't veto his raise. And he gave the election director a step. Just not 2 steps. Stop looking at the few I mean few topped out guys. Think 24 out of 200. Over a 120 on step 2 .

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  12. Must be hurting losing all the Kids for Cash money up there.

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  13. The comments about steps increases is getting old from the deputy sheriffs.
    If their current contract does not call for step increases, then they are deserved no step increases.
    If it does and they are not receiving them, this should be a simple unfair labor practice.
    Stop dwelling on past contractual language.
    The senior deputies only have themselves to blame for allowing the ex-Allentown regime to hold offices on their board.

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  14. The comments about steps increases is getting old from the deputy sheriffs.
    If their current contract does not call for step increases, then they are deserved no step increases.
    If it does and they are not receiving them, this should be a simple unfair labor practice.
    Stop dwelling on past contractual language.
    The senior deputies only have themselves to blame for allowing the ex-Allentown regime to hold offices on their board.

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    1. What the actual fuck are you talking about? We’ve taken past county offers to arbitration and the ruling, albeit unfair, is what it is. There has been no former Allentown PO’s to blame for any judgements, whether in our favor or not. You’re obviously talking out of your ass and attempting to smear our department.

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  15. March 25 10:31 PM
    Now it is the fault of the Union lawyer for your low pay and low morale.
    A Union is only as good as its leadership, and when ex-Allentown police officers were in these positions, contract rulings went downhill. Why? Because someone in the department for two years had no idea of the effort and struggle the deputies went through to unionize in the first place. Deputies run their own Union, so it is nobody's fault but your own for what you have now. Your membership voted these officers in and now must suffer. I applaud Heatherman for his efforts, but the attendance of the membership at the court and corrections meeting was nowhere near 100%, so unless you are united, you are divided. And there are too many retired officers who care only about earning a good wage (on top of their pension) to sit around all day. The true deputies who do not have a pension to supplement their income are now suffering because of your self centeredness.

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  16. Why are you covering for the administration and throwing everyone else under the bus? What's in it for you? A newly furnished county office?

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    1. Didn't know he had a county office. I know Bernie has a pass to get into the court house. Maybe sherriff deputies should look into why he has is. Part of security.

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  17. Result of the political ruling class-who would want to work for them.

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  18. 8:13, Deputy, as you know, I have no office. And I have a pass just as everyone who uses the courthouse regularly has a pass. I got it under the former Exec and had to go thru a background check by the PSP. When you run out of argument you start getting personal.

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