 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
salary; deputy sheriff; detention officer
Purpose
Sets the minimum starting salary of a deputy sheriff and of a detention officer based on the average starting salaries of the highest-paying law enforcement agencies or detention facilities as outlined.
Background
A county sheriff is tasked with a variety of statutory duties, including preserving the peace and maintaining charge of the county jail (A.R.S. § 11-441).
A deputy sheriff must: 1) have a high school diploma or GED; 2) be a U.S. citizen; 3) be 20 years and 6 months of age at the time of application; 4) be 21 years of age prior to the completion of the Sheriff’s Academy; and 5) be able to meet Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training standards, as determined through the pre-employment process (MCSO).
The Arizona Peace Officer Standard Training Board (Board) must create minimum standards for all peace officers across Arizona. The Board consists of 13 members appointed by the Governor to terms of three years and must hold quarterly meetings (A.R.S. § 41-1821).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state GF associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits the starting salary for a deputy sheriff from being less than 5 percent lower than the average starting salary of law enforcement officers of the two highest-paying law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, within the same county.
2. Prohibits the starting salary for a detention officer from being less than 10 percent lower than the average starting salary of detention and correction officers of the three highest-paying county detention facilities in Arizona and the Arizona State Department of Corrections.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 4, 2022
LMM/IJ/sr