MILTON — More than 100 hours comprise a typical two weeks for Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deputies who earn $15.17 per hour, according to Sheriff-elect Bob Johnson and other deputies.
However, Johnson hopes the recently passed, half-cent Local Option Sales Tax will offset a problem he said has led to a 30 percent rookie staff.
STAYING FOR THE PEOPLE
Deputy Mason Doggette is days away from passing 10 months with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office. Ten months for a deputy can mean more hours than others since, Doggette said, he has to work 100-plus hours a pay period to support himself, his wife and their 6-month-old daughter.
"(My wife and I) met in college and whenever I got down here and entered the academy she came to understand we would never have a lot of money," he said.
Doggette said overtime means 16-hour shifts multiple times each week, which means less family time and more time dealing with criminals.
"I missed my daughter sitting up for the first time. We spend hours on the phone saying 'Hey, how is the baby doing now?' because you don't know," he said.
Doggette said if something unexpected happens, he could apply to work in Escambia or Okaloosa counties.
"Everywhere else makes at least $1.50 to $2 more an hour, from Escambia all the way to Walton, the cities, everywhere," he said.
So what keeps deputies like Dogette in Santa Rosa County? The people, he said.
"Some of the agencies you talk to … they make a lot more money but they're not as happy with what they do … the camaraderie (in Santa Rosa) is head-over-heels above everybody else …
“(Also), admin staff always backs us up. Everyone I talk to says they've never had an issue with them … That's another reason I chose this place; because a lot of other places around have that issue. They don't know if their boss is going to back them up if they have an incident so they just go day by day hoping for the best," Doggette said.
Johnson said 36 of 119 deputies currently have less than two years’ experience.
"Don't get me wrong, some of these guys and gals are great officers. Most of them are,” he said. “But you still have that learning curve. If you have an officer that's been out there a year-and-a-half, he's not seen everything the guy that's been out there for 10 years has.”
A MISSION FOR RAISES
David Walls was close to veteran status by the time he left the SRSO on Aug. 12. This December would have made eight years for him if he had stayed.
"No cop expects to get rich," Walls said, adding that when he started with the department, he was a single father and at one point looked into welfare but was told he made too much money.
Walls said when he started eight years ago he was told there would be annual 5 percent raises for five years, then 2.5 percent raises, but in 2008 the economy took a downturn and raises stopped. He said some deputies left for other counties; he toughed it out until he turned part-time real estate work into a full-time job.
Today, Walls is married and has three children. He said he has freedom now.
"I'm able to be with my family more every night. I have late nights but I'm there at home. I also don't wake up at midnight for a four-hour shift … 18-hour days back to back."
Johnson, who’s been with the SRSO since 1993, said he plans to ask the Santa Rosa County Commission for a 20 percent raise across the board for sworn officers after he takes over as sheriff in January. He said the recently passed half-cent Local Option Sales Tax might be used to get his deputies raises.
However, Brandi Whitehurst, Santa Rosa County Commission public information officer, said the half-cent LOST is for capital expenditures alone and cannot be used to directly fund sheriff's office raises. Still, it may offset other costs and free up general funds.
‘THAT’S AN EYE OPENER’
"I think right now we are at a very important time in the life of Santa Rosa County. We're surrounded on each side by counties with a lot higher crime rate," Johnson said.
According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement data, Santa Rosa County was the third lowest in the state for total reported violent crime while Escambia was the ninth highest. Okaloosa County ranked 30th out of the 67 counties. Levy and Gilchrest counties did not report for this list.
A closer examination shows that not all local crime comes from Santa Rosa residents. Last year, 1,440 of people arrested in Santa Rosa County came from outside the county.
Johnson spoke about a robbery that took place last year in Navarre. He said a SWAT team received a call about a break-in; officers retrieved three individuals, all from Pensacola.
"I asked one of them, 'You're from the west side of Pensacola. What are you doing here in Navarre?'” Johnson said. “(He told me), 'When you get an alarm over there, you get six or seven deputies. When you get an alarm here, you get two.' That's what he said to me. That's an eye opener."
Johnson said, "From 2014 to 2015, one year, the Navarre District had 5,889 more calls for service in one year, 5,889 more with no extra people. It goes from everything from shootings to traffic crashes. What it boils down to is 6,500 more things to do with the same amount of people."
MAKING SANTA ROSA COMPETITIVE
Johnson said he's heard complaints that the department hasn't asked the county to fund more deputies.
"When you have six or seven openings that you can't fill, you can ask for 20 more deputies but they will just remain unfilled. What's the point?"
Currently, the SRSO has four deputy openings.
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Rob Williamson, of District 4, the Navarre area, said he believes he is in "lock step" with Johnson's vision.
"I've worked for and owned companies that had talent leave,” Williamson said. “You need to recognize, identify and come to grips what you're doing that's not working and improve what you're doing to recruit and retain the best talent."
He said the county is already in improving the work environment for deputies, with the increase in training budget from $5,000 to $45,000.
However, "It can't just be about compensation," Williamson said.
He also said it can't be just about the Sheriff's Office.
"My desired outcome is for Santa Rosa County to be a more attractive place to work, not for one department over another. It can’t be that a sheriff's deputy is more important than a teacher, a fireman, a permit processor or the zoning board.
“It has to be about Santa Rosa County doing everything to be competitive."
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BY THE NUMBERS
Here’s what Northwest Florida law enforcement officers are paid:
Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deputy: $15.17 per hour, $31,553 annually
Milton Police Department officer: $15.28 per hour, $31,782 annually
Gulf Breeze Police Department officer: $16.35 per hour, $34,008 annually
Crestview Police Department officer: $15.50-$16.40 per hour, $32,240-$34,112 annually
Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputy trainee: $15.25 per hour, $31,720 annually
Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputy with one year: $16.78 per hour, $34,902 annually
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputy: $17.64 per hour, 36,691 annually
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Santa Rosa sheriff eyes across-the-board pay increase