Living and working in Rappahannock County

Living and working in Rappahannock County

offers those who do so the best of both world,

but in the case of the employees of the Sheriff s Office, this is often done at the expense of a competitive salary and benefits.

With the entry level salary for deputies set at $22,595 (raised to $24,698 after one year), Rappahannock has a tough time competing with nearby jurisdictions like Prince William County, which just last week offered qualified applicants a job in the jail starting at $28,773 — no experience necessary.

What would it take to get the best people, and keep them here until retirement?

One new program currently being studied by Sheriff Larry Sherertz is the Law Enforcement Officers' supplement (LEO), a retirement enhancement.

In addition to improved benefits, the LEO plan would provide an additional $800 per month. The advantage is that deputies could afford to retire after 25 years of service, rather than 30 years, and enjoy other enhanced benefits until social security payments begin at age 65.

This program — which is already in effect in Fauquier, Culpeper and Madison counties — is especially attractive to young officers committed to law enforcement careers, and experienced officers who want to stay in the area — exactly the kind of people we want serving us.

Of course, the LEO supplement comes with a price tag: about $40,000 per year in local tax money.

But Sherertz has returned unspent Sheriff's Office appropriations for the past two years, and feels that the LEO supplement would be money well-spent. He also points out that continually training and losing officers has a cost of its own.

And that the income-over-expenses for housing prisoners from other jurisdictions in the Rappahannock County Jail could more than cover the cost of the LEO supplement.

It's time to take a close look at .this proposal.