Committee approves sheriff’s office handbook addendum updating hiring and shift rules

The Richland County Public Safety Standing Committee voted on May 2 to advance an updated addendum to the sheriff’s office handbook that adapts county personnel rules to sheriff‑office practices.

Staff described the addendum as a local tailoring of the county handbook that incorporates hiring-process language, references to the union contract where appropriate, and operational changes such as replacing 8.5‑hour shift references with 12‑hour shift language for road patrol and jail staff. The addendum also clarifies how certain supervisory roles — chief deputy, road patrol lieutenant and jail/dispatch lieutenant — accrue sick leave; the document now reflects past practice rather than inconsistent handbook language.

Committee members said staff and the sheriff’s office had worked together on the revisions and that the document will proceed to the full county board for final action. The committee moved and seconded the item; the committee voted to forward the addendum. Staff noted some minor additional edits and formatting changes remain before board presentation, and that vacation accrual language will be updated to reflect per‑pay‑period accrual.