Sheriff seeking an end to severe staffing shortage

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The Colleton County Sheriff's Office is in the midst of a severe staffing shortage that has been an ongoing concern.

The county's largest law enforcement agency is looking to fill open jobs, including eight road patrol deputies, seven positions at the Colleton County Detention Center, and one within the agency's IT department. However, the most critical staffing shortage is at the county's 911-Emergency Dispatch Center, where approximately eight dispatchers are needed. The open position numbers have remained the same for some time.

To try to find qualified candidates, the local Sheriff's Office is hosting eight upcoming job fairs: on Tuesday, February 15 at Wal-Mart; on Tuesday, February 23 at SC WORKS; on Wednesday, March 16 at the Colleton County High School Career Expo; and again at Wal-Mart on April 19, June 21, August 23, October 11 and December 6.

While the Sheriff's Office is in need of many positions, the lack of dispatchers is at a crucial low.

According to Colleton County Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Shalane Lowes, the empty dispatcher jobs have been vacant for quite some time: the Sheriff's Office has been holding several job fairs, most recent dating back to August of 2021, in their efforts to find qualified candidates. Job fairs are being hosted in addition to their online outreach.

"Dispatching is a stressful job that requires highly efficient communication and listening skills, multi-tasking, stress management, typing, and quick thinking during highly stressful situations," said Lowes. "However, dispatching is also a gratifying job. Dispatchers are the first voice of reasons someone hears when it's possibly one of the most traumatic times of their life. Dispatchers train to help save lives while first responders are en route to the call. Through this efficient training, CCSO dispatchers continue to save lives and help solve countless crimes because of quick thinking and asking the right questions."

To aid in retention and to help fill the vacancies, the local Sheriff's Office was granted an increase to its starting pay for dispatchers, deputies, and detention officers. This was done in July of 2021, at the beginning of the agency's fiscal year budget: Colleton County Council oversees the sheriff's office fiscal year budget.

"This increase was one of the main goals for Sheriff Hill and Chief Johnson," said Lowes. "With the support of county council, the increase was granted.

"This increase aided CCSO in competing with surrounding counties' agencies. One of the main struggles of recruiting qualified applicants was pay. Our starting salary wasn't in the ballpark with surrounding counties and was hurting recruiting because applicants would take employment elsewhere or couldn't afford to leave their current position due to the substantial decrease in pay."

"We're hiring certified and uncertified applicants for all positions," she said.

If they are not already certified, the Colleton County Sheriff's Office will send the uncertified candidate to the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy to obtain their certification, at no cost to the candidate.

"Applicants train and work while going through the process, earning pay," she said.

According to Lowes, the Sheriff's Office is continuously hiring qualified staff. She said they are using social media, job fairs, and a partnership with SC WORKS and Wal-Mart to find local people who want a career in law enforcement.

"… We're looking for good people who want to help make a positive difference," said Lowes.

Why is there such a need?

According to Sheriff Buddy Hill, the need for law enforcement officers in all positions comes from several different avenues: an overall and nationwide reluctance from people to enter into a law enforcement career, the stress of the job, and salary.

Colleton County Council recently increased salaries by ten percent for the Sheriff's Office. According to county officials, the starting salary in Colleton County for fully-certified new employees is $16.44 per hour.

Unfortunately, after last year's increase was granted, salaries were raised in neighboring counties, like Jasper, offering more money which put their salaries in the region of larger agencies: the issue of increasing the pay scale for Colleton County officers is something that Colleton County Council discusses.

According to Art Williams, who represents the Eastern District on Colleton County Council, council as a whole continues to be willing to discuss the ongoing issue.

"Making sure our officers receive equal pay is always an issue that has been important to me," he said, adding that our officers need to get paid because they are "dedicated" and "deserve" to receive reasonable compensation to match their experience and what they do for the community.

"I'm all for our officers to receive better pay," said Williams. "I'm supportive of our officers receiving equal and just compensation to match the scale in other areas and in other counties.

"I don't want Colleton County to become a training ground for officers, for them to complete training here and then go elsewhere," he added.

Additionally, Colleton County Council's At-Large Councilman Gene Whetsell said he fully supports any decision to increase pay for Colleton officers. "The Sheriff's Office is appreciative of County Council's support of our first responders and looks forward to working together regarding a solution, said Sheriff Hill."

Council is set to discuss the Sheriff's Office's funding during the upcoming 2022 budget process.

Colleton County 911-Dispatcher Qualifications

Dispatchers must be 18 in age, for deputies and detention officers 21. All applicants must be a U.S. citizen, possess a high school diploma or GED, have a valid S.C. driver's license, clean record other than minor traffic offenses, and pass a written exam. Dispatcher applicants are also required to take a typing test, mastering at least 40 wpm. Interested individuals planning on attending the job fair are asked to bring their resume.