ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - There's a new sheriff in St. Louis, and he's cleaning house.
Sheriff-elect Alfred Montgomery is handing out termination letters to over two dozen high ranking officials. Montgomery says some of these individuals make too much money.
"We've noticed that the current administration have given high amount of raises to these administrators within the past three months, giving them about up to $100,000 a year," Montgomery told KMOX. "We want to give those deputies who are underpaid and overworked up to $42,000 in starting salary."
Currently starting pay for deputies is $32,000. Montgomery says the current administration has been resistant to the transition, which is also a factor.
Montgomery wants use these terminations to rebalance the budget and raise starting salaries for deputies by $10,000.
St. Louis City Sheriff Vernon Betts pushed back against Montgomery's claims on Friday to KMOX, saying he can't give raises at his discretion, and they are up to work anniversaries and longevity.
"They can get paid between a two percent and 10 percent range," said Betts to KMOX. "Most of the people that are here, most of the people are usually paid that two to three percent range."
Betts says the individuals being terminated because Montgomery believes they are getting paid have worked for the department for two to three decade, sometimes even up to four decades.
Betts said these terminations are a morale killer, and risk pushing experienced deputies to look for employment in other departments. Betts adds this amount of turnover could be detrimental for the department.
"What if we have a riot, or what if you have to go move a prisoner from one place to another?," asked Betts. "Do you know how to hook that prisoner up?"
Betts called Montgomery heartless for terminating these deputies during Christmas time. Although the termination letters are going out now, they are effective Jan. 1, when Montgomery takes office.
Montgomery says he already has his command staff in place ready to start with him on Jan. 1 and has received over 70 applications to work at the department.
"Most of these individuals are former sheriff deputies that are returning back to the sheriff's office from whatever police department they left from," said Montgomery. "Some of them are airport police."