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Retired deputy tells Platte County commissioners to support higher pay for law enforcement
Summary
Retired deputy Dave Thornburg told the Platte County Commission on March 23 that first responders 'risk their lives day in, day out' and urged the board to negotiate fair pay, recounting traumatic incidents and criticizing a perceived reluctance to raise wages.
At a March 23 special meeting, retired deputy Dave Thornburg urged Platte County commissioners to ensure county public-safety employees receive better pay and support, citing decades of frontline experience.
Thornburg, who identified himself as a "retired deputy" of 30 years, told commissioners that first responders "risk their lives day in, day out" and described responding to shootings, vehicle wrecks and house fires. He said some commissioners and county officials do not fully appreciate those risks and recounted one interaction in which a prosecutor he named "Joe" told him being assaulted on duty was "a cost of doing business." Thornburg said that view was wrong and that employees deserve negotiation and appreciation rather than acrimony.
He referenced budget figures while urging the commission to consider pay adjustments, saying that "you talk about the budgets, dollars 24,000,000." The record does not provide supporting budget documentation or any staff response beyond the chair thanking him for his service. The transcript records no immediate policy action or vote tied to his comment.
Chair thanked Thornburg for his comments and his service; the meeting then moved on to ARPA business items.
