ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard is working on legislation that would give raises for St. Louis Sheriff's Deputies. Alderwoman Clark Hubbard says this is the second time trying to get a raise for deputies.
"We understand the needs, the challenges with pay at the sheriff's department," said Clark Hubbard. "The first bill we had some challenges getting that one through so this is a second [attempt]."
She tells KMOX that she would have liked to introduce this bill a while ago but wants to make sure the bill is done correctly.
"I would have loved to have introduced it a year ago, I would have loved to introduce it [Friday]," she said, "In the reality I don't deal with performative politics. I do my due diligence behind the scenes before I even get to the table so there are conversations that are still being had."
Those conversations are with the city's budget office, circuit court and Sheriff's department. Sheriff Vernon Betts has long been asking for a raise for his deputies.
"We are the lowest paid law enforcement agency in the St. Louis region. We are behind the St. Louis police department," says Betts. "Our [deputies] starting salary starts off at $34,600, St. Louis Police Department starts off at $54,000."
Betts says this pay discrepancy is why his department has struggled to retain deputies.
"I have had 43 deputies leave me going to other agencies throughout the St. Louis area just last year, 43."
Alderwoman Clark Hubbard says she isn't trying to create a pay scale race between the Sheriff's department and St. Louis Police Department.
"I really don't fall into the comparison thing," Clark Hubbard said, adding "we do our best due diligence to make sure they getting best paid, so that we don't lose them to other entities and they make the decision to stay and work at the Sheriff's department here in the city of St. Louis is the role I play in it."
Alderwoman Clark Hubbard does not have a timeline for when she will introduce the bill and is prioritizing making sure it's done correctly first.
