Coke County Sheriff

Rick Styles says "my concern is for the law enforcement coverage for this county." Pay for Coke County Sheriffs Deputies is among the lowest in the state. The Sheriff is currently trying to cover a spread out county with three Deputies instead of four. Rick Styles says " in Coke County we have the city of Robert Lee and the city of Bronte that are twelve miles apart. We also have two lakes 22 miles apart. We have got a lot of hunting and fishing activity, so our population rises during hunting and fishing season." The State Sheriffs Association has unsuccessfully lobbied the State Legislature for supplemental pay for low pay counties. The Deputy shortage also places a strain on support staff. Rick Styles says "my secretary is worth a lot more money than she is being paid because of qualifications. I think she also needs a raise in pay." The Sheriffs secretary serves as dispatcher 24/7, carries a firearm, and serves as jailer for female prisoners. Misti Hayes says "single Mom raising two kids, luckily my Mom lives next door. If I get called out in the middle of the night, it means getting my Mother up. My kids are eight and five." Misti likes working in her hometown, but the low pay puts a strain on the household budget. Misti Hayes says "the cost of living is increasing and the raises are just not there." Coke County has historically been a low pay county. By comparison, Sterling County starting deputies are paid about thirty percent more. Rick Styles says " we have three deputies, and two of them are looking for work elsewhere." To attract and keep four qualified deputies, Coke County Commissioners will probably have to vote for an increase in county taxes. Rick Styles says "never have asked for this type of pay raise in the past, because I knew the county is short of money. I am concerned the law enforcement coverage is going to suffer badly if we do not do something. The bottom line, it is about money." Mike Moritz, KLST News