Monroe County Sheriff’s Office addresses rumors about deputy pay and overtime

PRESS RELEASE

Union, W.Va. — Sheriff Michael Heller of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Monroe  County Commission, is issuing this statement to address rumors that have been circulating  about deputy pay and nighttime law enforcement coverage. Some of what has been shared in  the community is inaccurate, and the Sheriff’s Office wants to make sure residents have the  facts. 

“I understand these rumors have caused concern, and I want our community to know the  truth,” said Sheriff Heller. “Our deputies are protecting this county twenty-four hours a day,  seven days a week, and they are being paid for the work they perform, including overtime  worked on after-hour calls. I won’t let misinformation stand in the way of the trust this  community has in the Sheriff’s Office.” 

Clearing Up the Rumors 

Our deputies have always been compensated for overtime work. Any time a deputy is called  out and reports to duty during off-hours to respond to a call, that deputy is paid for that time in  accordance with department policy and applicable law. This has not changed.  The Sheriff’s Office also wants to reassure residents that law enforcement coverage in Monroe  County continues around the clock. Deputies remain available to respond to emergencies  overnight. 

What Deputies Are Actually Requesting 

The request currently under discussion is not for unpaid overtime for hours that our deputies  have actually worked. Deputies are asking to be paid overtime for time spent “on call.” They  are asking to be paid overtime for periods when they are not actually working but are available  to respond if needed and dispatched on a call. During these “on call” periods the deputies are  not at the office, and they can freely engage in personal activities. 

The Commission and Sheriff Heller take the concerns of the men and women who serve this  office seriously and is reviewing this request through the appropriate budgetary and  administrative channels, including discussions with the Monroe County Commission.  Compensation of our deputies is from taxpayers’ dollars, and those decisions must be made  responsibly and, in a manner, consistent with the county’s resources and obligations to  taxpayers. We have insured that every deputy who is called out, at any hour or day, is properly  paid. The County is now being threatened with a lawsuit if they do not receive back pay for  hours that they did not work. The Commission and Sheriff agree that taxpayers’ dollars are not  intended to pay deputies for sleeping while waiting for calls at night. The citizens of Monroe  County work hard for their money, and their tax dollars should not be squandered. 

Our Commitment to the Community 

The deputies of this department are dedicated public servants who continue to respond to  calls, patrol our roads, and keep this county safe day and night. The Sheriff’s Office is  committed to ensuring that the deputies are fairly paid for their work and that Monroe County  taxpayer dollars are not mishandled.