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November 7, 2008

Council panel votes to put sheriff under contract

By Howard Greninger

TERRE HAUTE — A committee of the Vigo County Council on Thursday voted 3-0 to place Sheriff Jon Marvel under a contract in 2009.

In addition, merit sheriff’s deputies are seeking a 4 percent base salary increase plus a $2,500 per deputy hazardous pay increase in 2009. Deputies say that county officers even with long-term service fall well short of compensation paid to a first-year patrolman for the Terre Haute Police Department.

Under a one-year contract, Marvel will earn $130,647, the same as a full-time prosecutor, which includes $5,000 paid by the county. Plus, Marvel will earn money from the issue of state tax warrants. Those fluctuate annually, but have been about $10,000 a year, which will place the sheriff’s salary at $140,647.

In return, the county will receive more than $104,000 from funds that had gone to the sheriff in revenue from food for inmates. Marvel is reimbursed $1.17 per inmate per meal by the state. If he can, through various food vendors, provide meals for a lower cost, such as $1.15 per meal, he keeps two cents per meal per inmate. That income will now go to the county general fund.

The sheriff will maintain responsibility for feeding inmates for the next two years. Vigo County will assume that responsibility under state law in 2011.

In an audit of the Sheriff’s Department in May, the Indiana State Board of Accounts stated Marvel could not make a profit from meals to jail inmates. The agency said if Marvel makes a profit on meals in 2009, the state would seek a reimbursement from the sheriff.

The contract will change how Marvel is paid. Currently, Vigo County pays the sheriff from three sources — a salary, plus excess meal money and fees for serving tax warrants. Marvel in October said he will earn about $175,000 this year. On Thursday, Marvel confirmed that figure is his net pay after federal and state taxes and other expenses. The sheriff’s gross pay this year is about $245,000.

About 25 deputies attended the meeting of the council committee, seeking approval for the 4 percent pay increase. Four percent is about $1,428 per deputy, plus they want $2,500 per deputy in hazardous pay, something not currently given by the county.

The base-pay increase would cost the county about $52,836 plus about $92,500 for hazardous pay, for a total of $145,336. That figure is based on 37 merit deputies. Marvel said to decrease that number by two, removing himself and his chief deputy.

A first-year city policeman’s salary is about $40,743, while base pay for a deputy is $35,687. A first-year city police officer makes 12 percent more than a deputy. This also means a deputy sheriff with 30 years or more, including longevity pay, makes less than a first-year city patrolman, said Paul Hartzler, a detective in the Sheriff’s Department.

Over the past several years, city police have received larger percentage raises than the Sheriff’s Department, Hartzler said. The City Council has proposed a 3.3 percent raise for police in 2009.

“If the current trend continues, the salary gap between the two agencies will be insurmountable,” he said.

County deputy pay varies, as ranking officers such as lieutenants or detectives, at $38,981, earn more than deputies, at $35,687. The chief deputy earns $46,350 in salary. Officers also earn longevity pay of $275 plus $1,650 for clothing.

“Deputies and other officers place themselves in harm’s way to serve and protect those in our community,” Hartzler said. “Although an honorable profession, deputies have been injured in the line of duty during various incidents ranging from domestic disputes, apprehension of suspects and traffic accidents, among others. The job responsibilities of a merit deputy and other police officers place each officer in high-risk and sometimes possible life-threatening situations, each and every day.

“We understand that not all situations we deal with are life-threatening or emotionally draining,” Hartzler said. “However, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, people in our community call on us in their time of need, when they have nowhere else to turn to bring security and safety to them at that moment.”

Deputy Normal E. Cottrell said an FBI study recommended the county split into five districts, patrolled by two deputies per district. Cottrell said that recommendation will not happen in Vigo County. Often, there are only three or four deputies patrolling the entire county, about 403 square miles.

Deputy John W. Davis said county deputies may have to wait as long as 30 minutes for backup, unlike city officers, who have several vehicles respond quickly. That results in a more hazardous work environment, he said.

Councilman Tim Curley, D-1st, a corporal on the Terre Haute Police Department, said the council must cut $800,000 in budget requests for 2009. He moved the matter to the council’s budget committee, which will now study the deputy pay request.

Curley said because of savings with a sheriff contract, he thinks the county may be able to fund the deputy pay increase request.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.

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