Sheriff seeks reclassification of courthouse security positions, estimates $447K first‑year impact

The Sedgwick County sheriff outlined a plan to operationalize the earlier decision to move courthouse security into the Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff asked the board to approve reclassifying courthouse security deputies and sergeants to step‑1 sheriff pay grades, eliminate seven part‑time courthouse security deputy positions, create four full‑time service officer positions, and add two vehicles to the fleet.

"Our proposal is is to reclassify courthouse security deputy to sheriff's deputy, which means moving them, from their current pay to a step 1 deputy position," the sheriff said when describing the personnel changes. The sheriff told commissioners the first‑year fiscal impact would be roughly $447,000, with an annualized cost of about $547,000. He said attrition and staffing restructuring would later reduce recurring cost by an estimated $88,000 per year.

Commissioners asked about recruitment and timing; the sheriff said integrating these positions with the county academy intake and moving staff via attrition would be the path forward. No formal vote was recorded in the provided segments; the sheriff said he will present full details at the public BOCC meeting on Wednesday.