Remarkably, after telling his Deputy Sheriff's that he could not pay them the 4% raise approved by the Board of County Commissioners until they had an agreed upon contract, Sheriff Beseler has decided to go ahead and pay them their raises and back money just as he did last year after the union was voted in to represent the sworn members of the Sheriff's Office.

Imagine that!  The high Sheriff holding out on Deputy's money until after the union vote and now trying to make nice-nice and pay them to make amends.  Looks like an extreme lack of professionalism, poor leadership and "bad faith". 

This raise could have been given October 1, 2007, but was held until today. 

We now hope the work conditions sought in the contract will be negotiated fairly, but fear more of the past.  The declared impasse with the Sheriff had nothing to do with money.  It was all about working conditions.  Holding the money back was simply a tactic to influence the union vote, which obviously did not work.

It is a shame the Deputies need the protection of the union to avoid political pressure and guarantee fair treatment.