Committee backs change to demotion rules for temporary task-force assignments

Tracy Peters told the Personnel Overview Committee that Sheriff Jonner requested a change to the county demotion policy (Policy 208) to address temporary task-force investigative positions.

Under the proposed language, employees assigned to temporary task-force positions — cited examples included the Cass County Drug Task Force, the Metro Area Street Crimes Unit and a U.S. Postal Service Task Force position — would be treated so that when they return to their prior assignment they would be placed at the pay step they would have reached had they not taken the temporary assignment. Peters said the intent is to classify those task-force positions in the same category as investigators but keep the roles temporary.

Committee members raised concerns about the policy’s midpoint rule, which can reduce an employee’s pay when they return from a higher-grade temporary assignment. One committee member described a recent case in which an employee who had served as a sergeant moved to patrol and effectively dropped to midpoint pay despite years of service.

Peters said the proposed change narrowly targets temporary assignments because the broader midpoint question is complex and may require additional HR and finance work to resolve across all scenarios. Members asked staff to review potential budget impacts; one member recommended closely vetting how the change would affect the sheriff’s office budget.

A motion to recommend modifying Policy 208 as presented was made and seconded; the committee voted to forward the recommendation to the full commission. The committee recorded the motion as passed. Staff will work with HR and finance on potential wider midpoint issues if needed.