NATCHEZ — Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten is lobbying for passage of a bill before the state Legislature that would provide certified law enforcement officers with a much-needed boost in pay.
House Bill 745, introduced by state Rep. Jeffery Harness of District 85, which includes Jefferson and Claiborne counties, would provide officers who are certified and have at least one year on the job with a supplement of $600 a month, or $7,200 a year, paid for by the State of Mississippi.
“Mississippi ranks dead last when it comes to law enforcement officer pay in this country,” Patten said. “The state is sitting on a $500 million surplus. Using some of it to boost the pay of law enforcement officers would help with retention and recruitment of officers, which is a huge problem now.”
Patten said starting pay for Adams County Sheriff’s deputies is $16.01 an hour. Pay for deputies with experience is $16.91 per hour, which he said is at or below the poverty level.
“All of the officers around here make at least two more dollars per hour than our sheriff’s deputies do,” Patten said. “Natchez Police make way more money than officers at the sheriff’s office. We have a lot of officers who do not want to leave their community and the state, but they do not have any options when you look at what they are paying officers in Louisiana and in Texas.”