During Tuesday’s Budget Hearings, Cooke County Sheriff Mike Compton purposed a trial program to Cooke County Commissioners which he believes will help reduce crime in the county.
Currently the Sheriff Department has 14 patrol deputies and four investigators. As part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), those employees are compensated at regular pay for every 160 hours they work during a 28-day-segment. However once those employees work over 171 hours, they are then paid time-and-a-half over time.
The catch, said Compton, is that in order for an officer to receive over time during that 28-day-period, he must be physically present for 171 hours and cannot take any vacation time.
In an effort to get officers to patrol on their days off, Compton suggested they be taken off FLSA and be placed on a 40-hour work week.
This way, Compton said he could test his trial program and offer a money incentive for officers.
Over one year, Compton said he would like to set up 320 hours of over time to assign to deputies during their time off.
“I would like to call the deputies on their days off and assign them a specified geographical area to work at specific times in an attempt to prevent and/or catch burglars, malicious mischief folks, whatever,” said Compton.
But without a 40-hour work week, Compton said, the deputies would only receive regular pay for working on their days off.
Compton said he was fully aware that this request was a “big ticket item” and that he would support whatever Commissioners decide.
“Whether or not the county could even afford this, is a decision the Commissioners Court is going to have to make,” said Compton. “It’s fair and it’s equitable, but it may not be affordable and we have to go with what we can afford.
I have no intention of asking for things that’s going to affect folks’ taxes. Commissioners Court has a difficult task in trying to fund everything that needs to be funded by the moneys they have available and I support them in whatever their decision is.”
During the hearing, Cooke County Human Resources Director Jennifer Eberle said the 320 day trail program would cost the county around $8,600, not including retirement which “would be really hard to estimate.”
Although that is only a base amount, Compton added, it would still be cheaper than hiring a new deputy to the department.
For his No. 1 request, Compton asked Commissioners to consider allocating budget funds towards hiring another criminal investigator for the Sheriffs Department.
Currently, the department has a tremendous case load which Compton said is too much for current investigators to handle alone.
The cost for a new criminal investigator would total around $54,000 plus $22,000 for an additional vehicle.
Cooke County Budget Hearings will continue today in the Cooke County Courthouse and will adjourn at 3:30 p.m.
Once the hearings are done, Commissioners will meet with the Cooke County Auditor and Tax Appraiser to decide how to allocate the county’s revenue. Before the budget can be approved in Commissioners Court, another public hearing will be held and all entities involved will be given copies of the proposed budget.
Local News
Sheriff submits new plan to court
- Local News
-
-
Tallying continues in Gainesville hospital board election
The tallying continues for administrators of the May 12 Gainesville
Hospital District election — who have scheduled a recount for 2:30
p.m. today in the North Texas Medical Center boardroom.
-
Hirings and kind words fill GISD board meeting
Hirings and commendations highlighted Monday’s regular Gainesville ISD
Board of Trustees meeting.
-
Additional Cooke County sentencings released
Jeremiah Johnson Jarvis, convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly
weapon, was sentenced to seven years probation and fined $1,500, plus
$253 in court costs. -
Letter carriers collect tons of food for VISTO
A Cooke County benefit organization currently has another several
thousand pounds of food to spread among families in need, thanks to
collection efforts by the Gainesville Post Office. -
'Pink ladies' now seeing red at medical center
For the first time in their history, North Texas Medical Center
Auxiliary members are wearing red. -
Eclipse over Lake Ray Roberts
Sunday evening’s partial annular eclipse of the sun is shown here as
seen from the Lake Ray Roberts shore during sunset. -
VIDEO: 'Ring of fire' solar eclipse
The solar eclipse that took place Sunday evening was an annular eclipse, one in which the moon blocks almost all of the sun. Some of the best viewing was in Asia, as with this video filmed in Japan.
-
Pharmacy robbed
Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a report of
aggravated robbery at Americare Pharmacy at 217 N. Weaver St. shortly
before noon Friday and arrested suspect Jeremy Kyle Lackey, 30,
shortly later. -
Mud run raise money for rare disease
Cooke County mother Wendi Tipps got her 30th birthday wish
Saturday when over 600 participants turned out for “M-o-o-ving Thru’
The Mud With Landon” at Circle N Family Dairy near Lindsay. -
Hospital names top empolyees
North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville honored its Director and
Employee of the Year during the organization’s annual Employee
Recognition Banquet May 15. - More Local News Headlines
-
Tallying continues in Gainesville hospital board election
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
