DeKalb public safety officials seek raise from county

Tuesday’s DeKalb County Public Safety Committee meeting is not the first meeting off-duty DeKalb County officers have attended to push for raises.

“And they will be here again on their off-time until we do what's right,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Johnson.

Public safety officials in uniforms and concerned residents packed into a small meeting room Tuesday afternoon, as the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners considered a proposed 10 percent raise this year for all public safety employees.

That includes firefighters, police, deputies, marshals, 911 operators and parole and probation employees. The commission also discussed a proposed 5 percent increase in both 2018 and 2019.

But DeKalb County Police Chief James Conroy said the money won’t go as far as you’d think, with an increased workload and more expensive pension and benefits payments.

"You work harder and your pension and benefits increase. That creates a sense of panic,” said Conroy.

"They're paying out $200, $300 a pay period in insurance alone. That is enormously high,” said DeKalb County Public Safety Director Cedric Alexander.

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Conroy said the pay scale is unfair, with some subordinates making more than their supervisors.

"We are not hiring and retaining as fast as we are losing people,” he added.

Conroy more than 200 officers have left the force in the last four years.

Alexander said if the starting salary were $50,000, rather than almost $40,000, people would come running.

A Sheriff's Office employee said deputies who have several children can't make it on their salaries, so they work second jobs and are never home.

One speaker said the issues reduce quality of life.

“I’m hearing that you need more than just an across-the-board raise,” said Johnson.

The commissioners held off on approving the raise, so they could consider a more comprehensive plan at the next meeting.