By Alison Bauter
Journal Times
RACINE COUNTY — Beginning in 2013, all nine sergeants at the County Jail will be nonsworn civilian personnel, rather than sworn officers, saving taxpayers about $1 million over the next decade, Sheriff Chris Schmaling said.
“In my view it’s a win-win for correctional officers and a win-win for the taxpayers,” Schmaling said. “It works. It’s a concept that has proven results.”
According to the county Human Resources Department, a sworn sergeant starts at about $75,000 a year, while nonsworn correctional sergeants’ starting pay is about $37,500, due to the different training and responsibilities required.
The County Jail was once entirely staffed by sworn officers, but changing financial circumstances motivated Racine County, like most of Wisconsin’s biggest counties, to look to nonsworn staff to work in the jail.
Full story: Use of nonsworn officers at jail to save county $1 million