Brown County Sheriff, Vance Hill, has a shortage of jailers at the Brown County Jail. He needs nine jailers and a couple more deputies, too. Finding both has been a struggle.
In an effort to encourage employment, Brown County Commissioners on Monday, October 4, approved a request from Sheriff Hill to pay a recruitment bonus of $500 in hopes of attracting more applicants for the jailer position. To receive the recruitment bonus of $500, those hired must remain employed for 30 days before they are able to receive the bonus.
“My jailers are working 12 hour shifts, seven days a week, they’re tired, they’re frustrated and you know when you have employees tired and frustrated they’re probably not going to be speaking their best about the organization they work for just because they’re worn out,” Hill said.
By state statute, the county must provide one jailer for every 48 inmates. The Brown County Jail can house 196 inmates. There were 188 inmates in the jail as of Wednesday morning, October 5.
“We have positions for 36 jail staff. Their jobs are difficult. It’s not the best environment. They’re not babysitting the neighbor’s kids, they’re babysitting some of the worst individuals that live in this county,” Hill said.
Starting pay for a jailer is $36,000 per year plus county insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield and retirement benefits. According to the county website, jailers get every other weekend off for three days. Hill is hopeful the $500 bonus approved by Commissioners Court might help change the current situation.
“Commissioners Court has done a great thing for my staff this year increasing their pay so we’re going to see if the pay increase and these bonuses might not pull us out of the slump that we’re in,” Hill added.
There have also been two vacancies for Deputy Sheriff for four months that Hill is hoping to fill as soon as possible.
Commissioners also approved sending one jailer per year to the Law Enforcement Academy in Killeen at a cost of $4,037 from the Sheriff’s budget.
Contact Sheriff Vance Hill at the Brown County Sheriff’s Department if you are interested in a jailer or deputy position. His number is 646-5510.
The job openings for the County are posted at this link to the Brown County website.
In the Photo: Brown County Sheriff Vance Hill addresses county commissioners on Monday morning.