Ohio County Sheriff’s Office Eyes Move to 12-Hour Shifts
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WHEELING -- Ohio County commissioners Tuesday night questioned sheriff's department representatives about a plan to work deputies on 12-hour shifts.
Commissioners had asked Sheriff Tom Howard to attend Tuesday's commission meeting, but office administrator Drage Flick and Chief Deputy John Schultz instead were present to speak on department matters. They explained Howard was off work Tuesday and unavailable.
As part of a court settlement agreed to last month, deputies received an across the board 23% pay increase retroactive to the start of 2023.
Commissioners Tuesday night made an end-of-the-fiscal-year budget revision and transferred $332,000 from the general fund to cover the raises. An additional $150,000 is being contributed by an insurance provider, according to County Administrator Randy Russell.
Commissioner Randy Wharton asked Flick who typically decides the method of scheduling deputies. Flick told him the sheriff makes the final determination, but the last two times it has happened the scheduling requests were initiated by deputies.
"The deputies have gotten together and said we would like to try this type of scheduling," Flick said. "Then it is up to the administration to determine whether we are able to cover the county with this type of scheduling, and does it benefit everybody. Then the DSA (Deputy Sheriff's Association) would take a vote on whether they would be able to support whatever the deputies are asking us to do. Currently it is a 12-hour rotation."
The deputies brought the idea to the sheriff and administration to determine if it would be feasible to have coverage under a 12-hour schedule, Flick continued.
Once it was determined the move was feasible, there was a vote of the DSA, he said. About three-quarters of the deputies voted in favor of a 12-hour shift.
Chief Deputy John Schultz said the 12-hour shift was actually advantageous to the department. He explained "it is more efficient" for deputies to do a 12-hour shift when they must transport prisoners to mental health facilities, and also less costly as they don't incur as much overtime.
Under the proposed plan, the deputies would move from four 10-hours a shifts per week to three 12-hour shifts one week and as many as four 12-hour shifts the next week -- resulting in 84 hours of work during a pay period.
Flick said the extra four hours "would be addressed" within the concept of a 40-hour work week.
Wharton expressed some skepticism on the scheduling method.
"I've done that job, and I think I can speak to it," he said. "Are you concerned about a law enforcement officer being on duty continuously for 12 hours? It's a hard job."
Flick acknowledged that if someone would have to stay over on their 12-hour shift, "you start pushing that limit of how long someone should be working."
"I worry about deputies working an extended shift like that - especially in inclement weather," Wharton said. "There's a lot of activity. I wouldn't want to put public safety in jeopardy."
In other matters, commissioners passed a motion to give county employees the day off on Monday, the Juneteenth holiday. Employees also will have off Tuesday, West Virginia Day, making for a four-day weekend.
A date for a public hearing regarding a second tax increment financing (TIF) district adjacent to The Highlands Development incorporating areas on Middle Creek Road was set for 6 p.m. on July 18 prior to the start of the next regularly scheduled commission meeting.