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Sheriff warns commission that chronic vacancies, low pay and courthouse problems risk public safety
Summary
Sheriff Williams told the commission he has been chronically understaffed for years, warned that pay differentials compared with the police department have reduced recruitment, and called for salary adjustments, security upgrades and additional budget for medical contracts and overtime to avoid further risks to inmates and staff.
Sheriff Williams told the Athens‑Clarke County Commission on May 15 that the sheriff’s office remains “critically short staffed,” that vacancies and lower pay compared with the Athens‑Clarke County Police Department have hampered recruitment, and that the office needs salary adjustments and facilities upgrades to reduce safety risks.
“Pay is paramount,” Williams said. He said the sheriff’s office was authorized for 195 positions but has been down “between 40 and 50” positions since the county’s pay study changed compensation rules, creating heavy reliance on overtime. He said the office currently spends about $2,000,000 a year on overtime and has had to redeploy deputies from the…
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