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Commissioners clarify step‑plan lateral transfers: receiving agency can waive step‑6 cap
Summary
Johnson County commissioners clarified that when law‑enforcement officers move between county agencies (sheriff, constables, fire marshal), the receiving agency head may, at their discretion, allow lateral pay above the usual step‑6 cap to retain experienced personnel.
Johnson County Commissioners on Sept. 22 clarified county policy so officers moving between participating Johnson County law‑enforcement agencies may be lateraled in above step 6 at the discretion of the hiring agency head.
The court considered a question from Captain Ben Areola about whether officers who are already paid above step 6 at one Johnson County agency (for example a constable’s office) must be reduced to step 6 if they transfer to another Johnson County agency (for example the sheriff’s office). The court said retention across county agencies was the stated policy intent when the step plan was adopted.
Several commissioners and Captain Areola argued that officers should not be financially penalized for transferring to a different county agency. Commissioner White said the policy should support retention within the county because “they're still the same employer.” The judge proposed leaving discretion with the receiving agency head to permit lateral transfers above step 6 when warranted.
The court voted—with a motion and second—to amend/clarify the step plan so that the agency head of the receiving Johnson County agency (sheriff's office, the four constables’ offices, or the fire marshal) may authorize a lateral hire above step 6 based on the officer’s experience and the receiving agency’s staffing needs. The motion passed unanimously.
Ending: The county directed staff to implement the clarification administratively so agency heads may use discretion in cross‑agency lateral transfers without reducing long‑tenured officers’ pay automatically.
