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A court decision that gives county commissioners broad control over the classification and pay scales for sheriff’s deputies should have little impact in Douglas County, officials say.
Former Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel sued the Josephine County Board of Commissioners after the board denied his request to promote one of his sergeants into a lieutenant’s position.
The Board of Commissioners later approved an order that limited the Sheriff’s Office to one undersheriff, one lieutenant and eight sergeants. Daniel responded by saying the commissioners did not have the authority to issue the order and he took the matter to court.
Both Daniel and the Josephine County commissioners relied on state statutes each side felt justified their interpretations of the law.
Daniel, who ran unsuccessfully last year for commissioner, claimed the Board of Commissioners only had the authority to set the budget for the Sheriff’s Office, its maximum number of employees and the compensation for each salary level. As long as he operated within those parameters, Daniel said he had the right to determine how many deputies would serve at each level.
The sheriff said the right to fix compensation went along with his authority to hire and fire his employees. The court disagreed.
“Hiring and firing are logically (and practically) distinct from deciding the number of people serving at each salary level. Nothing in the statutes cited by plaintiff, therefore, alters defendants' authority to fix the number of deputies and the compensation of every deputy,” Judge David Schuman wrote in the six-page decision issued Wednesday.
In Douglas County, the Board of Commissioners has left it up to the sheriff to determine how best to run the department. Undersheriff Jim Burge said Sheriff Chris Brown works closely with the commissioners to keep them informed on staffing issues.
Commissioner Doug Robertson, who serves as liaison commissioner to the Sheriff’s Office, said it has never come up as an area of contention. He said the sheriff has the best handle for determining the necessary staffing levels.
“We wouldn’t get in the middle of that,” he said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
Former Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel sued the Josephine County Board of Commissioners after the board denied his request to promote one of his sergeants into a lieutenant’s position.
The Board of Commissioners later approved an order that limited the Sheriff’s Office to one undersheriff, one lieutenant and eight sergeants. Daniel responded by saying the commissioners did not have the authority to issue the order and he took the matter to court.
Both Daniel and the Josephine County commissioners relied on state statutes each side felt justified their interpretations of the law.
Daniel, who ran unsuccessfully last year for commissioner, claimed the Board of Commissioners only had the authority to set the budget for the Sheriff’s Office, its maximum number of employees and the compensation for each salary level. As long as he operated within those parameters, Daniel said he had the right to determine how many deputies would serve at each level.
The sheriff said the right to fix compensation went along with his authority to hire and fire his employees. The court disagreed.
“Hiring and firing are logically (and practically) distinct from deciding the number of people serving at each salary level. Nothing in the statutes cited by plaintiff, therefore, alters defendants' authority to fix the number of deputies and the compensation of every deputy,” Judge David Schuman wrote in the six-page decision issued Wednesday.
In Douglas County, the Board of Commissioners has left it up to the sheriff to determine how best to run the department. Undersheriff Jim Burge said Sheriff Chris Brown works closely with the commissioners to keep them informed on staffing issues.
Commissioner Doug Robertson, who serves as liaison commissioner to the Sheriff’s Office, said it has never come up as an area of contention. He said the sheriff has the best handle for determining the necessary staffing levels.
“We wouldn’t get in the middle of that,” he said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
