Pa. Sheriff Worries about Deputy Candidate Shortage, Retention

There was a time when the Union County Sheriff's Office received applications when there were no deputy jobs open. Now, Sheriff Ernie Ritter worries there aren't enough interested candidates to fill vacancies.

The Sheriff's Office, based in the county courthouse in Lewisburg, has an immediate opening available. Ritter anticipates up to two additional vacancies in January.

The office has employed 35 deputies over the past 15 years. Of those who've left, more than half were gone within their first year of employment, with more than three-quarters exiting within two years, according to Chief Deputy Scott Hahn.

Ritter and Hahn said many used the job as a stepping stone, largely for the Pennsylvania State Police. It's flattering but also problematic as the candidate pool dries out.

Both said they believe interest in joining law enforcement as a career is waning, particularly in the wake of heightened scrutiny amid nationwide calls for social justice reform and defunding police budgets.

"Up to now, we've always had people putting in names and had a surplus of applications we could draw from," Ritter said.

"It's the biggest problem the Sheriff's Office has," Hahn said. "We can't retain our staff."

Reports circulated nationwide this year of fewer applicants and an increase in resignations and retirements. A survey released by the nonprofit think tank Police Executive Research Forum, as cited in a report by NPR, showed a 5% decrease in hirings compared to an 18% increase in resignations and 45% increase in retirements over 12 months ending March 31. The survey included 194 police agency respondents.

Five candidates for one police officer position at the Buffalo Valley Police Department completed physical and written tests on Tuesday. Police Chief Paul Yost said he anticipates making at least two more hires by the midway point of 2022 to make up for potential retirements.

The department currently employs 14 full-time officers including Yost along with two part-time officers. Starting salary is $58,300.

"It's not near what it used to be. We used to get 20 to 25 applications," Yost said. "It's a statewide problem."

Yost agreed with Ritter and Hahn in theorizing the climate around police work is chasing people away from a career in law enforcement, whether they're considering such a career or actively in one.

The Sheriff's Office in Union County currently employs seven full-time deputies and one part-timer. The starting wage for a full-time deputy is $17.36 hourly for a 40-hour workweek. That rises to $18.34 for applicants who are already certified. Those who are uncertified can go to sheriff academy training at a cost to the county: room and board, salary and mileage. The academy takes about five months to complete.

In comparison, Montour County's starting wage is $14.50 hourly and the workweek is just 30 hours. Sheriff Clair Heath said they've had one vacancy since June. He said he's requested a wage increase but hasn't secured it yet.

"We got only one application so far," Heath said.

The starting wage in Snyder County is $19.15 and could be adjusted higher based on a candidate's experience, according to Chief Clerk Tony Phillips. Sheriff John Zechman said his office, which has seven full-time and three part-time deputies, hasn't had to hire a full-time deputy since December 2017. Northumberland County Sheriff Bob Wolfe also said his office is fully staffed and that he hasn't had to hire a deputy in about three years.

Salary study

A salary study of 11 surrounding counties, according to Hahn, found that annual starting salaries for sheriff deputies range from $34,000 to $47,000. Union County's uncertified wage falls below average with the certified wage about average.

Ritter and Hahn hope to have the starting wages raised in an effort to attract more candidates, especially as similar wages in other less-intensive, less-dangerous careers in retail and the like are available.

All three Union County commissioners said Ritter isn't alone in seeking wage increases. Department heads across the board are facing hiring issues and potential wage increases toward solving them, they said. And, all three acknowledged that the hiring issues are shared in the public and private sectors.

"The first step often is to seek raises," Commissioner Stacy Richards said. "We were confident we were competitive and still are because our benefits are competitive."

Commissioner Jeff Reber cited the study also cited by Hahn, the chief deputy. He said compensation is fair and within the scope of the region. Reber touted the county's benefits package as "outstanding," and said Sheriff's Office work, while still intensive, especially for warrant service, may be more appealing to some because it's not strictly patrol work. He also said the culture in the office with Ritter at the helm is appealing.

"It's a really awesome group of people who care about what they do," Reber said.

Boop credited Ritter's office with training up deputies to a place where they were taken on by Pennsylvania State Police. He also agreed with the law enforcement officers who opined that attacks on police work and integrity are driving away potential candidates.

"That's not me excusing a police officer for doing bad things. There's a lot of really good officers out there who have challenging jobs and they need support," Boop said.

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