Sheriff’s deputies are deserving of our appreciation and support

Sheriff’s deputies are deserving of our appreciation and support

I was raised to respect and honor the men and women of our safety forces and have always felt gratitude for the job they do. In fact, I once was denied an opportunity to work for a small-business owner who was looking for someone to take over their family business, because I told him that I had hoped to one day enter a law-enforcement career. He told me that he thought that everyone ultimately achieves their dream, wished me well, and opted not to hire me.

As an Austintown trustee, I tried to negotiate fairly with safety forces, realizing the danger that they place themselves in daily, but understanding that the taxpayers have limited resources to spend. We tried to seek additional levies only to keep pace with the growing needs of the community’s safety.

That is why when I became county commissioner, I listened to Sheriff Greene and looked into the recent history of the sheriff’s department. I saw a workforce that had been cut by a third of its manpower, had received only one 3 percent raise in the past 12 years, and had been the only county department on massive concessions for the past five years. A starting deputy makes $13.10 an hour to carry a gun and protect our lives. I can tell you I’m grateful that there are dedicated men and women willing to risk their lives for us for that.

I know firsthand of the bravery of these officers. Two days after Christmas this year will be 15 years since I proudly participated in the swearing-in ceremony in Austintown to hire Mike Hartzell as an Austintown police officer. This coming April will be 12 years since Officer Hartzell was killed in the line of duty, bravely serving the residents of Youngstown. Every day our safety forces walk out the door knowing the risk that confronts them, but they all proudly take an oath to “serve and protect.”

All contracts are open for negotiations at least every three years, and the sheriff’s deputies are no exception. The county, being in a deficit situation, had no choice but to offer no raises again to their workforce during negotiations. The arbitrator, before any sales-tax passage, ruled to give the deputies a 1.5 percent raise, regardless of the deficit. Basically telling us that enough is enough, and we cannot continue to attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the sheriff’s deputies.

Hopefully the new year will be a safe one for all those who work to serve and protect our communities. Knowing that most residents, like me, continue to support our deputies, I would expect the media to echo the community support. The binding decision of a conciliator clearly believes that their lives are worth more than $13.10 an hour as well.

David C. Ditzler, Mahoning County commissioner