Harris County deputies tell commissioners: Low pay hurts public safety

Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies investigate a fatal shooting scene at an apartment complex at 5600 block of Aldine Bender Road Sunday, March 26, in Houston. Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies investigate a fatal shooting scene at an apartment complex at 5600 block of Aldine Bender Road Sunday, March 26, in Houston. Photo: Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle, Yi-Chin Lee Photo: Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle, Yi-Chin Lee Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Harris County deputies tell commissioners: Low pay hurts public safety 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Harris County sheriff's deputies delivered a letter to county commissioners Friday with a simple message: It's time for a pay raise.

The letter from the Harris County Deputies Organization — which represents 1,700 jailers and deputies — cites a salary study showing deputies make on average 18 to 24 percent less than in comparable departments.

"You can go to Buc-ees and be a supervisor and probably make more than a jailer or entry level deputy," said David Cuevas, president of the Harris County Deputies Organization. "We are so far behind (other agencies) it's hard to recruit and retain personnel."

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he'd spoken with union officials about the letter.

"Comparable to other agencies, we should probably be doing a lot better," he said. "It's a very competitive marketplace ... It would be great to see a bigger influx of personnel coming in, being able to compete to get the best and brightest."

The letter drew mixed reactions from commissioners, who said Friday they are reviewing the letter and study.

"We need a sustainable stream of steady increases across all ranks that we can afford — even if it comes in steps," Commissioner Jack Morman said. "They deserve it."

Commissioner Steve Radack said he would like to see a comparison to other sheriff's departments.

"We want our law enforcement officers compensated fairly, and it's important to note that recently we just gave more money to pay incentives," Radack said. "We're trying to be fair. But if you check, you'll find there are very few law enforcement positions open in [Harris County]. They're able to hire people."

Commissioner Jack Cagle asked the Harris County Budget Office to compare county budgets and deputy salaries — as well as the salaries of constables - with other counties, said Mark Seegers, Cagle's spokesman.

"He did not seem to be overly concerned or fazed by the report, but said we should definitely look at it and consider what the HCDO is telling us," Seegers said.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett could not be reached Friday for comment.

The deputies organization study compared Harris County salaries to those in similar Texas law enforcement agencies.

New Harris County deputies make $44,862, less than new officers at the Houston Police Department, who start at $49,918; Dallas, $46,870; Fort Worth, $57,729; and San Antonio, $50,664. Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers make $44,082 in their first 18 months, and then jump to $53,242, according to the study.

Among the large urban departments, Austin police officers consistently earned the most, with salaries starting at $58,681 and reaching as high as $95,270 for experienced officers, the study showed. In Plano - an upscale Collin County community - officers start at $65,670 and can climb to $86,238.

Harris County deputies top out at $68,643 with 20 years experience.

The pay discrepancy continues up the ranks.

Harris County sergeants on average make 19 percent less than their peers, with pay topping out at $79,419, compared to as much as $113,186 in Austin.

Lieutenants make up to $88,481. Similarly ranked supervisors in Austin make $130,166 and in Fort Worth, $114,672.

Captains in Harris County — the highest civil service rank within the sheriff's office — can make up to $102,364 compared to $150,513 that Austin officers in similar positions make and $17,000 less than the $119,212 that Houston police captains make.

"It is imperative that the starting pay per Deputy be increased in order to recruit the best pool of candidates into the Sheriff's Office ranks as well as maintaining a competitive average so that trained law enforcement will spend their careers with Harris County," Cuevas wrote in the letter.

The letter also calls for other improvements for working conditions and benefits, such as a reduction in forced overtime and free parking.

"We want a frank and honest conversation about how to improve working conditions through additional staff and to deal with parking for jail staff," the letter says.

Lack of resources is hurting the department, Cuevas said.

"We're hoping the commissioners will look at this from a statistical standpoint and reality," Cuevas said. "When you don't have law enforcement resources to protect the citizens of Harris County... they're sending the wrong message about the safety of the public."

Harris County Budget Officer William Jackson said Friday he had not had time to fully review the salary analysis but would be looking at the numbers in coming days.

"The bottom line is this: The average length of service (of deputies) is 14 years. With detention officers, its 10 years," he said. "So I don't see high turnover, compared to other county departments and all that. So if we weren't paying enough, you'd think people would be leaving the office, and then go find better paying jobs. And I haven't seen that."

He said the analysis did not appear to include total compensation, with other perks such as incentive pay, take-home cars, health insurance or retirement benefits.

The analysis likewise did not include other sheriff's offices from large nearby counties such Fort Bend or the Bexar County, he said.

"We just need to make sure we're comparing apples to apples," he said.

Cuevas, however, said the pay disparities are hurting the department.

"With all the perils in our region, with smuggling, gangs, and property times on the rise, the choice of whether to have the best people on the front lines is a choice Harris County cannot afford not to make," he said in the letter.

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.