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Commissioners approve one-time double-pay for deputies who covered court details
Summary
The board approved a one-time payment to six deputies who worked court details on April 14 after a staffing pinch. County leaders directed HR and unions to negotiate longer-term operational fixes.
Thurston County commissioners on April 22 approved a one-time payment to deputies who covered courthouse duties during a staffing shortage arising from multiple in-custody trials.
Sheriff’s Office leaders told the board that Superior Court notified them of four in-custody trials scheduled the same week and that the department did not have sufficient corrections deputies available. Six patrol deputies volunteered and worked court details that would typically be performed by corrections deputies. The sheriff said those assignments would have qualified for double-time pay under a corrections memorandum of understanding that does not extend to patrol deputies.
County HR and the sheriff recommended making a one-time double-pay payment to the six deputies for work on April 14 and to then meet with the affected unions and court leadership to develop operational solutions. Commissioners approved the request; the sheriff’s office and HR said the total additional payment above the deputies’ time-and-a-half pay was $1,653 (total), to be charged to the corrections bureau.
County leadership emphasized this was not a routine staffing approach but a response to an unusual set of circumstances. Commissioners asked staff to meet with the unions and Superior Court to address notification procedures and contingency planning to reduce the likelihood of similar last-minute needs.
The board approved the onetime payment and directed further collaborative work among HR, the sheriff and the court to identify sustainable staffing approaches.
