Hiring and keeping Davison County corrections officers and deputies is a continuing challenge.
Sheriff Steve Harr discussed the issue during Tuesday’s Davison County Commission meeting. “I don’t know what the answer to it is,” Harr said. “I know money is tight but, we need to figure out a way to keep out people here.”
He told commissioners Davison County salaries are among the lowest in the state among comparably sized counties.
Harr says training costs also factor in. “One corrections officer is a little over $7,200 to train them,” he pointed out. “One deputy with a thirteen week with Police Academy and on the job training is a little over $18,600 to train them.”
The Sheriff continued, “I think we can better spend our money better than having an open revolving door of come in, work six or seven months, and have to go somewhere else.”
Harr suggested bumping the starting wage by $1.50 an hour.
Commissioners took Harr’s suggestions under advisement.