To the Editor:
I can’t believe I’m writing another letter about the pay differential between some members of our sheriff’s department and Womack building cleaning personnel.
But based on the solution of the three ruling commissioners, that in order for the officers to get an increase in pay they must obtain a Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certificate, here I am.
Based on the hardship associated with obtaining said certificate while working, this seems to me to be an unreasonable solution, a solution fabricated to deny these officers a fair wage for work than is much more dangerous that sweeping floors. Shame on you three commissioners.
And by the way, could you please justify why maintenance personnel are paid more than the police?
I shudder to think what your next cost saving decision might be.
Could it be that you extend your wage control thinking to requiring that all county business related personnel have at least a two-year college degree or they will no longer be eligible for pay increases?
Public safety is a dangerous career and requires working long and irregular hours as well as being on call 24/7. Maintaining a stable police workforce is difficult in an environment where job changes are often dictated by pay and working conditions.
It’s obvious that people who make concocted decisions that affect the career path of safety personnel either have little regard for the safety of their constituents or are just plain uninformed.
So how about it, you three, reconsider your decision and do the right thing for everyone involved, the underpaid police and your constituents.
–– Karl Kachadorian, Tryon