To those who have decided to move to greener pastures. We should all wish them well and feel pride that they were selected. Just to show that others recognize a good officer as well. WCSO is a great department, but who can blame those who can go to other departments and receive better pay. Kudos!
It seems others are blaming the wrong people our people leaving. The current administration, higher ups, or if you wish to be insulting the (non-exsistent)" inner circle" others blather on about, are not at fault for the unequal pay that lures our officers to greener pastures $$$$$$. Face it, some also just want to try something new, and get a fuller resume. Don't put words in others mouths and try to read their minds.
Look to another area of our local government for that blame. Our county commissioners need to be aware of these inequalities in our pay and that an important investment is being squandered by this trend of losing officers . They control the purse strings. Convince them to apply a progressive approach for our growing county. Be a part of that movement instead of writing virulent and hurtful ramblings here that doesn't accomplish anything. Our department loses money when we pay for an officer to go to the academy for post certification, train them, and lose them to those who offer more money. They actually don't get the fact that we are losing a valuable investment in our future.
For years, our county government has not kept up with the pay raises to their employees [teachers not withstanding] and sometimes county employees were even denied them. Teachers, please do take this the wrong way. You deserve every dime you get, but yours have progressed faster than most and correct me if I am wrong, but the state also has a part in your salaries so they stay competitive that is not afforded to the rest of us. You have an important job in the education of our children's future development. This was made apparent by the news story on TV about teacher's wages in this area and the misconception of what the average teacher makes. People would be appalled by the wages those of us who strap on a gun and badge and have to take our chances that just an ordinary traffic stop, service of a paper, or just driving down the road could be our last.
Under the previous admin. our comissioners also decided to eliminte the yearly step raise that has hurt deeply with the overall pay to all officers at WCSO. There is no way to ever make that inequality up when those counties and departments are offering more. We have a very dangerous, volatile, and most of the time unrewarding and thankless job, but those of us who do it love it and know that we make a difference in the area where we live and our children grow up. Now we just need to make those in charge of the purse strings appreciate that fact.
However: I wish to also applaud those who are dedicated to being comitted to this county and for those are the ones who are in it for the long haul and wish to see this department thrive and grow.
Please, if you are leaving then take what you learned here, remember that most of you were given a chance and the education that others would not give and let the department you work for see what good officers we produce at WCSO and be safe. Whatever you do and wherever you go you will always have been a WCSO officer.. Make us PROUD!