Nash County Sheriff says misinformation from County Manager is preventing salary increases for deputies

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone says he needs more manpower, but misinformation from the county manager is creating a significant obstacle.

Stone expressed concern Tuesday night about his department in a letter that outlined his reasons.

"I wrote the letter so the people of Nash County can be informed on how their sheriffs office is being funded." Stone said.

In Stone's two-and-a-half-page letter, he says the County Manager, Stacie Shatzer, provided misinformation for not supporting salary increases for the sheriff's office.

Stone says that Shatzer says his office has four empty positions when he says he has 15.

"We need manpower and to increase the pay of these professional deputies so my tenured deputies don't leave," Stone says.

The starting pay for a Nash County Deputy is just over $45,000, while competing agencies offer entry-level pay of just over $53,000, according to Stone.

County Manager Shatzer has a letter of her own. She says over the past two years, the base pay for ranks within the sheriff's office has increased 10%, and county commissioners are considering a 5% increase for all county employees in next year's budget.

But Stone says those conversations don't help his current needs.

"When a man can go to Rocky Mount and get a 20-thousand dollar pay raise there is a deficiency," Stone said.

Shatzer continues and states that departments in the county suffering staffing shortages, such as emergency and social services, need attention. Currently, the county is facing unplanned spending to address deficiencies within the child welfare division.

Stone says he is deeply concerned about the manpower shortage in his department and he may have to make adjustments to serve the people of Nash County if the situation does not improve.

"Instead of having seven or eight on a shift, I might have five or four," Stone said.