LAST WEEK: WHAT SHOULD GWINNETT COUNTY DO TO RETAIN POLICE OFFICERS?
Gwinnett County has hired 65 police officers this year, but lost 75 to other police departments, retirement or are leaving police work entirely. Gwinnett Sheriff Butch Conway has reported another 43 openings for sworn officers and 10 civilian vacancies in his department. Equally troubling is the lack of people applying for the positions. In 2014, the Sheriff’s Department accepted 2,149 applications. In 2015 that number dropped to 1,689. So far this year, the department has had only 871 applications.
“We lose people for a multitude of reasons, higher pay with other agencies is a major factor in the attrition rate,” said Conway. “Pay has got to be addressed if we are going to maintain the level of public safety Gwinnett citizens expect. The cost of hiring and training is tremendous, it is difficult to put a price on experience but it can mean life or death in this line of work.”
Here’s what readers had say:
Quality law enforcement will not stick around if they can't afford to live on their salary. Policing is a dangerous and thankless job; to go through all that and get paid minimally on top of it, I don't blame them for leaving. — Melissa Marie
My recommendations to retain Gwinnett police: Higher salaries to be top 5 percent of metro area, take home vehicle to those who reside in the county and allow off duty use, paid healthcare benefits for employee and family, paid retirement benefits (non- employee contributions), longevity step raises of 5 percent for years 5, 10,15 and 3 percent at year 20. In addition, consider shift differential 5-8 percent more for late night or midnight shift, lateral salary for new hires based on previous experience, supplemental pay for detectives or field training officers, short and long term disability insurance employer paid, and salary incentive courses for those seeking higher education. — M. Sabo
It's not just the money. They have geared everything for the employee's first 5 years. They did away with the pension and went to a 401K so the incentive to stay is gone. I have talked to many who left after 5 years who went to other places like Publix and went in the door making $10,000 more a year to start. The benefits package is another big deal. The deductibles and co-pays are rough when the salary doesn't increase much. — Dwight Peugh
But we have the best county park system in the country. Isn't that what Charlotte Nash thinks is most important? What a disgrace to put parks above public safety. Quit opening new parks and pay our police/fire departments a competitive salary! — David P. Bates
We need to raise their salaries immediately. How about recruiting ex-military men and women. Increase benefits and offer signing bonuses. — Jack Jones
As a former LEO wife … it's not all about money. It's about the community respecting them and having their back. — Nicole Agee Davy
It's a combination of factors folks. Gwinnett pay does need to increase as do the benefits health plan. Kaiser is not a good health plan option at all. Gwinnett officers have all the toys an officer needs to do the job and enough parks to patrol. Gwinnett should hire park police… end of that story. Go easy on the toys and put that money into salaries and benefits. Who in their right mind,with a degree would want to work irregular shifts, spend lots of time in court, deal with the scum of the earth for under $40k? Be thankful we still have professional law enforcement in Gwinnett county as many counties do not. — Bob Appell
How about enough so they don't have to depend on part-time jobs in addition to their calling? These officers are not asking to make millions, they want to be able to work their 12 hours and go home and rest. Instead most go on to another job after that 12+ to make ends meet. — Heather Dom
What Gwinnett should do is create another SPLOST for public safety. — Joe Bodnar
Maybe they should ask the officers "why" they are leaving. If the majority of them are claiming the same reason, then maybe this would be the best place to start correcting the problem. — Dennis Heinz
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
State Farm, the nation’s largest property insurance company, withdrew its request for a property tax break amid questions from Dunwoody’s economic development board about it’s necessity, since the company had already committed to consolidate offices on a 17-acre campus near Perimeter Mall.
Although tax incentives are usually designed to encourage businesses to relocate or expand, State Farm said it still plans to seek $34 million in public support for two more office towers being considered for the same area.
But Dunwoody Development Authority officials don’t think it needs to extend these incentives.
Public financial support for business development projects like State Farm’s comes from a discount on property taxes the company would otherwise pay to DeKalb’s school system, county government and city’s government.
The Dunwoody Development Authority, made up of citizens appointed by the city’s council and mayor, has the power under state law to give tax abatements.
What do you think? Should taxpayers give money that would go toward schools, roads and other public projects to ensure that a private company relocate within its borders? Even if that company has already committed to the area? Or is that aid a small price to pay to keep good-paying jobs? Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com
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