Walton County and City Law Enforcement

What are salaries for officers of the county and city? I heard from an out of state city investigator that Florida pays some officers employed by cities around 100k.

Not to answer for Mike here, but $100K... :shock: :funn:

Not to answer for Mike here, but $100K... :shock: :funn:

I had the same reaction when this guy told me that but he assured me it was correct. I have no clue and guess I won't get a clue as those who know don't want to share. Ya know....it's one of those things that should be accessible to the public since SUPPOSEDLY, government works for the people. Yea, they work for us but we can't know how much we pay them.

I had the same reaction when this guy told me that but he assured me it was correct. I have no clue and guess I won't get a clue as those who know don't want to share. Ya know....it's one of those things that should be accessible to the public since SUPPOSEDLY, government works for the people. Yea, they work for us but we can't know how much we pay them.

Salaries of LEO's are public record. You should be able to get them from the city or county.

I had the same reaction when this guy told me that but he assured me it was correct. I have no clue and guess I won't get a clue as those who know don't want to share. Ya know....it's one of those things that should be accessible to the public since SUPPOSEDLY, government works for the people. Yea, they work for us but we can't know how much we pay them.

As Mr. Adkinson has pointed out, several years ago the starting salary at the DFSPD was $21,500.00. I can confirm this. :roll: I believe it is now about $29K. WCSO ranges from roughly $30K up, but the only one who makes $100K has the word "Sheriff" after his name (and constitutional officer salaries are set by law).

Even more shocking is.....

The link in the original post indicates turnover in the DeFuniak Springs Police Department in 2006 was an astonishing 44%.

When is this doubling of the budget (supposedly for officers' salaries) actually going to yield results?

Dade County has less than a 5% turnover and Okaloosa is around 7%.

Is this the kind of leadership we really need?

I had the same reaction when this guy told me that but he assured me it was correct. I have no clue and guess I won't get a clue as those who know don't want to share. Ya know....it's one of those things that should be accessible to the public since SUPPOSEDLY, government works for the people. Yea, they work for us but we can't know how much we pay them.

All you have to do is call City Hall and ask. Several of the salaries are discussed in the local paper every year when they workshop raises.

I attended the workshop Tuesday night and will have a write up on it in next weeks edition, as well.

The Walton Sun indicates DeFuniak Springs employees are getting 7% raises this year. In these hard times, it must be nice to have a government job like that.

Does this dramatic new increase include the DeFuniak Springs Police Department?

The Walton Sun indicates DeFuniak Springs employees are getting 7% raises this year. In these hard times, it must be nice to have a government job like that.

Does this dramatic new increase include the DeFuniak Springs Police Department?

The budget has not been set, nor will everyone receive the same amount is my understanding. Cost of living increase is set at 4%, anything over is bonus incentive linked to performance. The budget has not even been through it's public hearings yet, so, I say let's wait until the first public hearing is over, before we know all the facts and amounts.

The budget has not been set, nor will everyone receive the same amount is my understanding. Cost of living increase is set at 4%, anything over is bonus incentive linked to preformance. The budget has not even been through it's public hearings yet, so, I say let's wait until the first public hearing is over, before we know all the facts and amounts.

Probably a really good idea since government employees(except members of Congress) receive raises based on the whims and foibles of their governing elected officials as a rule. Please remember they are entitled to a living wage, too, and many of them deserve it as much or more so than other budget increases that are proposed by special interest groups and others.

Probably a really good idea since government employees(except members of Congress) receive raises based on the whims and foibles of their governing elected officials as a rule. Please remember they are entitled to a living wage, too, and many of them deserve it as much or more so than other budget increases that are proposed by special interest groups and others.

From what I read they are going into reserves about one million to pay for this. If this is true, Thank you Walton County Commissioners for not doing something so reckless with our money.

From what I read they are going into reserves about one million to pay for this. If this is true, Thank you Walton County Commissioners for not doing something so reckless with our money.

And I guess I can correctly assume you are NOT a government employee and could care less about their standard of living as long as you taxes aren't increased. lol.

And I guess I can correctly assume you are NOT a government employee and could care less about their standard of living as long as you taxes aren't increased. lol.

What good does it do to give huge raises if you are using reserves or borrowing to do it? It is terrible business. Would you give your employees a big raise if it meant going into your cash reserves? I certainly would not. Maybe cutting out some luxury items or only fund faises for the low end employees would be acceptable as long as the budget is balanced.

Hear, hear, Idlewild. As a member of the NON-governmental economy, I have had to tighten my belt in these lean economic times. The county's largesse seem particularly ill-timed.

Hear, hear, Idlewild. As a member of the NON-governmental economy, I have had to tighten my belt in these lean economic times. The county's largesse seem particularly ill-timed.

This particular instance the giver of the largesse is the city of DeFuniak. With all of us tightening up, it is sort of a slap in the face, even if I don't live there.:angry: We are in the same county and it does seem that the city up there always has a hand out to the county. Maybe next time they come around someone will remind them that they were giving big raises when everyone else was cutting back.

The link in the original post indicates turnover in the DeFuniak Springs Police Department in 2006 was an astonishing 44%.

When is this doubling of the budget (supposedly for officers' salaries) actually going to yield results?

Dade County has less than a 5% turnover and Okaloosa is around 7%.

Is this the kind of leadership we really need?

Remember, 2005/2006 were transitional years in the DFSPD. This is the timeframe when Ray left, Mike was hired, and roughly half of the city officers either left for other agencies or were hired by the WCSO - or both.

So at which year does he begin taking responsibility for his department? Maybe next year?

So at which year does he begin taking responsibility for his department? Maybe next year?

Maybe the day after he was elected City Marshall by the people of DeFuniak Springs. I just don't think he should have fingers pointed at him for things that happened during the transition.

Maybe the day after he was elected City Marshall by the people of DeFuniak Springs. I just don't think he should have fingers pointed at him for things that happened during the transition.

Why? he and his supporters are surely "pointing the finger" at Mr. Cornman during his residency "transition." And as much as I agree with them, alot of people have "pointed the finger" at Ralph for the misdeeds under his administration, even those he was not personally respnsible for. :shock:The leader is responsible for what happens, Mr. Adkinson is quick to take credit for the percieved good, he should own the perceived bad as well.

The high attrition rate in late 2005 / early 2006 was due to the change in administration. I can count five employees off the top of my head who jumped from the PD to the WCSO, and one who accepted a position with DOT and eventually went back to the WCSO ;-). Most - not all, but most - happened at the same time or before Mike took the reins. And, of course, several left after Mike came in.

If you want to compare apples to apples, compare 2006 in the DFSPD to 2000 in the WCSO. That's the only point I'm trying to make.

we have bingo!!!!!

Remember, 2005/2006 were transitional years in the DFSPD. This is the timeframe when Ray left, Mike was hired, and roughly half of the city officers either left for other agencies or were hired by the WCSO - or both.

So much said with so few words!

So much said with so few words!

Sometimes I say too much

and I wouldn't be jumping up and down like the authority on this if my other half hadn't contributed to several agencies' attrition rates during 2003 - 2006. :roll:

Alas...I attended the Eucheanna Forum this evening, even though I vowed not to attend another. Should have stuck to my thoughts. The spagetti was wonderful, the weather was nice and Brad Drake spoke very well. Oh, this is a sheriff / police thread isnt it. The candidates said it was the last forum, if any of you missed them, guess its too late to see them in action again. I will reserve judgement as I am sure they are exhausted from saying the same thing over and over again, and I vowed not to be immature and be critical of any of the candidates again. I did find it strange that Sheriff Johnson failed to show, but instead sent a spokesperson....no that is not strange at all on second thought (one last jab). These are my thoughts, there were a few with heart felt speeches, some that said nothing, and some that were very arrogant (which I personally find as a loss of huge points). This is my fourth (I think) forum and I believe I will make the following rank based on MY OBSERVATIONS,nothing clouded with rumors or innuendos. 1. Cornman 2. Cooper 3. Adkinson 4. Macon (he actually got points tonight for encouraging all the candidates) 5. Brown 6. Wise 7. Ralph (hey he was a no show so I cant compare him).
Thats all from the Driver...headed out to earn a paycheck! I have really enjoyed these threads about our politics in law enforcement. Ya'll have a great day now you hear?

Of all the forums that were held, Sheriff Johnson only showed up for one. And last nights forum your ranking was almost correct, at least from my observation---1. Adkinson 2. Cooper 3. Macon 4. Corman 5. Brown and 6. Wise.

try these places

I saw it as Cooper, Cornman and Brown.
And once again I asked, not challenged, adkinson about internal policy and decisions and I was told to see his captain for answers. Not what I expected.