Sheriff—mployees press commissioners over pay compression and retention during heated public comment

Dozens of Davidson County Sheriff's Office employees and retirees addressed the Board of Commissioners on June 5, urging changes to recent pay adjustments they said create "compression" between line officers and first-line supervisors and are driving departures.

Speakers included detention supervisors and lieutenants who described day-to-day responsibilities, medical emergencies and safety risks they handle and said proposed pension and pay calculations exclude credit for prior law‑enforcement service. They pressed the board to address both recruitment and retention, saying recent pay steps leave some supervisors making similar or less than subordinates.

The comments began after a brief opening from a speaker who said the sheriff's office is "at a crossroads" and continued across multiple residents and employees. Several speakers identified themselves and their roles: Taylor Calicut, sergeant in the detention center; Bridal Willis, lieutenant; Jerry Souls, lieutenant; Dan Watson, sergeant; Michael Dunlap, lieutenant; Charles Goforth, lieutenant; Christie Barner, sergeant; and Mike Burns, retired captain. They…