3 months ago
5
BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) -- Bedford County is currently facing a shortage in sheriff's deputies.
The office inside the Bedford County Courthouse, located on 200 Juliana St., has two acting deputies, both of whom are uncertified. "We should have nine deputies certified, along with six certified part timers," Bedford County Sheriff Wayne Emerick said.
Since the calendar flipped to the year 2020, the department has seen 35 deputies turn in their letters of resignation and their badges. The main reason for the shortage is the financial troubles each deputy faces once they take the job.
The current wage for a sheriff's deputy in Bedford County is $16 per hour. Over the span of a two 40-hour work weeks, they receive paychecks up to $950, equating to a $24,700 salary.
"We need to create a living wage for these people," Emerick said.
Not only does the shortage effect how Emerick conducts his day-to-day operations, but it also plays a role with the residents of Bedford County. "It's costing the taxpayers money, along with crippling the sheriff's office," Emerick said.
The residents have spent ...
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