MOULTON The retirement last week of Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputy Barry Johnson was bittersweet for a sheriff who already is struggling with a shortage of deputies.

Sheriff Gene Mitchell said Johnson, a deputy for the past 15 years, had been counting down the days.

He told me last year he would be retiring, Mitchell said. Barry was steady, and we all hated to see him go. If he gets tired of retirement and wants to come back part time, my door will be open.

He said Johnson was a patrol officer and served warrants.

Replacing Johnson will be a challenge, Mitchell said.

I dont know if it will be tomorrow or in two months, he said of hiring a replacement. If I hire someone without experience, they have to go to the (police) academy. Thats dead money youre paying until they complete school and can get on the road. If an experienced officer walks in the door tomorrow and his background is clear, I can start the paperwork, but that doesnt happen very often.

Mitchell said when International Paper shuttered in 2014, the county was forced to make drastic cuts. He said his department was probably the last to be affected, but he was forced to lay off a deputy in 2016.

At full strength, the sheriffs office employs 11 deputies, not counting jailers and investigators. He said some experienced officers look for work in other counties because of the fear of getting laid off.

Were behind the eight ball right now because we have three officers out for medical reasons and Barrys retirement, Mitchell said.

Deputy Ashley Bowling remains off the job while he recovers from a head injury he suffered while responding to a standoff Oct. 16. He was hit with a boulder by Demetrae Griffin of Moulton, Mitchell said.

Deputy David Crittenden was injured in February dealing with three juvenile burglary suspects in the Langtown community.

If Moulton (police) had not responded as backup, it would have been much worse, Mitchell said. Not having enough personnel like in this case is dangerous, and we will get people hurt.

The third deputy, Jeff Culp, is out following a non-work-related surgery, the sheriff said.

Mitchell said starting pay for inexperienced deputies is usually between $12 and $13 an hour. He said more experienced deputies, like Johnson, make about $18 per hour.

County Clerk Donna Llewellyn said the sheriff offices budget for fiscal 2017 is $2,121,191.

Hes used about 90 percent of his budget with a month to go, she said. Hell probably go over; thats not unusual.

Llewellyn and Mitchell agreed overtime pay chews through the budget.

If we get a call, we have to respond, Mitchell said. We pull a deputy in and pay him overtime. I simply dont have the staff to avoid it.

He said sometimes he is forced to put investigators on the road as deputies.

Llewellyn said the county commissions first budget work session is 10 a.m. Wednesday. If we get another cut from (the Tennessee Valley Authority), we may have to make more cuts, she said.

TVAs in-lieu-of-tax payments have decreased across the board in recent years, TVA officials said in December.

According to TVA records, Lawrence Countys portion of TVA tax-equivalent money for fiscal 2017 is $1,340,449. In fiscal 2016, the county received $1,849,064.

The fiscal 2017 estimated total is 49.2 percent of the $2,723,318 the county received in fiscal 2011, according to the TVA.

Read the rest here:
Retirement, 3 medical cases leave sheriff short of staff - Times Daily