Coshocton Sheriff's Office and union agree to new contract and pay increase for deputies

COSHOCTON − The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office recently negotiated a new contract with the union covering deputies in the department. The main difference between this and the previous contract is salary.

Sheriff James Crawford said his goal was to get pay at around $30 an hour as a way to attract and retain employees. He knows some law enforcement agencies in the region where top pay is around $38 an hour and that could increase to more than $40 an hour over the next few years.

"We've got to stay competitive, but we can't break the bank," Crawford said.

The new contract has an average increase of 4.24% over the next three years. The contract retroactively goes back to Jan. 1 and expires Dec. 31, 2026. This is equivalent to what was agreed to in the contract for the sergeants and civilians division in March.

Starting pay for deputies now is $24.31 an hour with top pay at $28.16 an hour. At the end of the new contract, starting pay will be $26.46 an hour and top pay at $30.51 an hour. Fringe benefits such as insurance, vacation, comp time, clothing allowance, retirement and other considerations stayed the same from the previous contract, Crawford said.

The only other contract change was allowing a $300 stipend for deputies for proper outfitting agreeing to special operations, like the special response team or K-9 unit.

The union covers 27 deputies, with the department having 66 employees total. Administrative positions are excluded from collective bargaining agreements.

Crawford is hopeful of a police academy through Central Ohio Technical College, set to start May 10, will be another way to get new hires. He said most of the applicants are local. Crawford said people keep signing up and dropping out, but they should have around 10, which is the minimum. A previous academy was cancelled due to lack of applicants.

"Nine or 10 have passed the physical and background (check) and are ready to go. It's just that they keep changing their minds," Crawford said on the number fluctuation. "We need new candidates, especially local."

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Deputies receive pay increase under new contract