GOLDEN —After several years of staffing shortages and high turnover among deputies, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office now finds itself nearly fully staffed and its attrition rate cut almost in half.
Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader recently informed county commissioners that his office was considered 98 percent staffed with sheriff’s deputies and sworn staff at the end of September. Also, the attrition rate has dropped from 15 percent last year to about 8.5 percent, meaning fewer deputies are leaving the department.
Shrader said the goal is between 5 percent and 6 percent turnover per year, which he said indicates an average of a 20-year career on the force.
The turnaround, Shrader says, is the product of an additional training academy this year and good recruitment by his staff in addition to .
The 98 percent number — 534 out of 541 authorized sworn staff — includes those still in the academy, in training after graduation or on leave. Shrader said there about 50 deputies in training and 12 on leave.
Another positive note Shrader reported is that a large number of the deputies leaving this year are retiring and not leaving for other departments. One of the biggest issues with the attrition rate was the number of deputies leaving after working between six and 10 years.
“That piece represents an opportunity for new young people to come into the organization,” Shrader said. “It does have a favorable impact on budget, as well.”
the department prior to this year, resulting in the sheriff’s office being understaffed. In 2014, Jeffco Sheriff’s deputies ranked 16th in the metro area in maximum salary.
Commissioners approved a pay increase for deputies in the county’s 2015 budget after the sheriff’s office made a request.
“It’s something we have to continue to work on,” Shrader said.
Jeffco commissioners Casey Tighe and Don Rosier both said they are glad to see the turnaround and noted that the sheriff’s office has once again requested more money for salaries in the 2016 budget.
“It’s really encouraging that we’re being competitive,” Tighe said. “We want people to feel like they can make a career here in Jeffco.”
Rosier noted that the 2016 proposed budget prepared by the county manager includes a 2.6 percent merit-based pay increase for all Jeffco employees.
He said decisions on how to allocate additional funds to other departments for further pay increases will be decided in the coming weeks.
Rosier praised the sheriff for his work.
“I have to give all the credit to the sheriff’s department and Sheriff Shrader for working in the department there and working with the commissioners.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or @joe_vacc
