DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announces ‘significant’ pay raise for employees

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that employees will see significant increases in their paychecks starting in December.

The long-awaited 3.5% pay raise is the largest increase in the agency’s history, and will be applied to the base salaries of everyone who works for the Sheriff’s Office.

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Some non-supervisory positions will see increases of up to 20%. Newly-hired deputy sheriffs and detention officers will also see increases to base salaries at the start of 2022. The deputy sheriff’s annual salary will begin at $51,000, and the detention officers’ base annual salary will range from $44,818 to $47,060, depending on education.

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Sheriff Melody Maddox said that pay increases have been one of her priorities since day one. Maddox said the delay in raises has impacted the department’s ability to retain staff and recruit new employees.

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“Our dedicated deputies, detention officers, other sworn and non-sworn personnel, and administrative staff deserve compensation that is commensurate with the risks and responsibilities of their jobs, especially in light of the current public health crisis and public sentiments regarding law enforcement,” Maddox said. “We are pleased to be able to recognize their value and contributions in this way.”

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