Statement Regarding Judgment in Sheriff John Mehr’s Lawsuit Seeking Raises for Deputies and Detention Specialists –

Today, Madison County Sheriff John Mehr announced that Judge William Acree, at the conclusion of a 4 day trial, ordered that Madison County fund a 7% raise for all certified Deputies and Detention Specialists employed by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

The Judge’s ruling recognized that the Madison County Sheriff’s Office current salaries for those employees were not competitive and were creating problems with hiring and the ability to retain employees in the Sheriff’s office.

The Judge also held that removing certain administrative positions within the Sheriff’s Office, as the county had asked, was not authorized by law and would not serve the public good.

Sheriff Mehr said he was pleased with the Judge’s ruling, and that Judge Acree recognized the hard, dangerous and often unpleasant work done by his Deputies and Detention Specialists.

Sheriff Mehr said the ruling also recognized that he could not properly and efficiently fulfill his duties without being budgeted appropriate funding by the county to provide competitive pay for his employees.

Sheriff Mehr also pointed out that Deputies and Detention Specialists must confront, on a daily basis, society’s most difficult and persistent problems such as mental illness, domestic abuse and substance abuse. He said they should be adequately paid for their efforts.