Salary disparities spark urgent call for law enforcement pay raise

During a recent government meeting, discussions centered on salary disparities within local law enforcement, particularly concerning the constable's office. A representative highlighted the increasing gap in salaries over the past year, emphasizing that delaying necessary adjustments only exacerbates the issue.

The analysis presented compared salaries of various positions within the Smith County Law Enforcement Administration, revealing that the lowest-level supervisor in the sheriff's office earns $83,000, while the constable's office is lagging behind by $3,000. The representative pointed out that lieutenants, captains, and chiefs in the sheriff's office earn significantly more, with salaries ranging from $87,000 to $118,000.

The constable's office is seeking a salary increase of $5,000 for the chief deputy position, which would still place it $10,000 below the salary of a sergeant in the sheriff's office. Additionally, there is a request for funding to replace a 2016 Ford Explorer at a cost of $47,000. The representative urged the committee to consider these requests seriously, as the ongoing salary disparities could impact recruitment and retention within the constable's office.