“This is huge for our county,” said Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett.
Burchett said the change has been in the works for years.
UPDATE: Clark County’s new dispatch center in the works
She said in the past, the sheriff’s office has run into trouble in hiring and retaining qualified deputies — but earlier this week, the Clark County Commissioners approved a new contract that was agreed upon between the sheriff’s office and the Clark County Deputies Union in hopes to clear some of those hurdles.
The sheriff’s office said a major hangup has been when a new deputy is hired, their first job is in the jail — not on the road — and they’re only moved from the jail when a spot on road patrol opens up.
“They can basically work in the jail for (up to) four to five years before they ever get out onto road patrol,” Burchett said.
Under a new plan rolled out Friday, the office will start out hiring corrections officers who will work solely in the jail for the duration of their career.
Applicants need to be at least 18 and the sheriff’s office will provide the proper corrections training.
The officers will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the jail and the inmates.
The sheriff’s office estimates that the hiring of the corrections officers will save the county over $200,000 annually. A big chunk of the saving will stem from difference in wages between corrections officers and deputies.
The corrections officer’s wage will be $19 to $21 an hour , as well as benefits costs.
RELATED: Clark County Jail population declining over last five years
In 2019, the starting wage of a deputy was $18, plus benefits, but the sheriff’s office has increased the starting wage to approximately $25 — also as part of the new efforts to attract deputies.
“The beauty of this is it’s going to save tax dollars,” said Clark County Commissioner Lowell McGlothin. “This is about working together to make this a better community for all of us.”
There are about 50 deputies working in the jail right now, and those deputies can choose to continue working in the jail — but once they retire a corrections officer will take their place.
Deputies who don’t want to continue in their jail position will find their fits in different road positions like in a Clark County township or in a Clark County school serving as a school resource officer.
“That way they are paid for by them and not by the county. They pay for that deputy, so that saves the county even more money,” Burchett said.
Those interested in one of the six open corrections positions can find an application on policeapp.com.
The application is open until March 31, 2020.
6 — New correction officer positions open
18 — Minium age to apply for corrections officer position
50 — Deputies currently working in the Clark County Jail
$200,000 — Estimate of money saved because of staff change
The News-Sun has been the leading source for decision made by Clark County leadership. Most recently, the News-Sun has provided in depth coverage about the county’s new dispatch center and a possible change in the location of the jail.