Bibb County sheriff’s patrol car. (Telegraph File Photograph)

Bibb County sheriff’s patrol car.

Credit: Telegraph File Photograph

As the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office attempts to hire and retain deputies, officer pay has been a commonly-raised issue.

During the course of Macon-Bibb County’s May county commission races, several candidates claimed that Bibb County deputies’ salary lags behind that of neighboring jurisdictions, and that’s to blame for deputy retention issues.

Public records from local law enforcement agencies show there are offices that offer higher starting pay than the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. However, records also show that other causes are contributing to officers leaving Bibb County.

How much are Sheriff's deputies paid in Macon?

During Macon-Bibb County’s 2024 fiscal year – which ran from July 2023 to June 2024 – a sworn deputy made $40,812.10 a year. Deputies who weren’t sworn made $36,192.36, according to salary information provided by the county.

Pay increased for officers higher in the ranks, according to county records.

  • Sergeants made $48,501.23
  • Lieutenants made $56,146.23
  • Captains made $64,996.28
  • Majors made $71,658.40
  • A chief deputy made $87,101.23

The Macon-Bibb County Commission recently approved a pay raise in the fiscal year 2025 budget for first responders, including officers at all levels. The budget officially went into effect Monday, and will run through June 2025.

Here are the salary levels in the new budget:

  • Non-sworn deputy: $40,678.56
  • Sworn deputy: $48,946.56
  • Sergeant: $51,854.40
  • Lieutenant: $60,028.80
  • Captain: $67,100.80
  • Major: $76,107.20
  • Chief deputy: $102,107.20

Police pay for neighboring Warner Robins

Commission candidates in May’s elections pointed to the Warner Robins Police Department as a destination for law enforcement officers leaving Bibb County to seek higher wages.

While WRPD’s status as a police department does change employees’ titles, it has a similar hierarchical structure. There are also “levels” within positions that mark an increase in pay. One “step” is equivalent to a year of service with the department, according to Ken Fennell, employment and benefits manager with the City of Warner Robins. Officers receive a top pay raise after 25 “steps,” or years, on the job.

Someone who transfers in from another department will have their level determined by the police chief depending on their years of service in other departments.

  • For officers: step 1 employees make $52,515.56 a year, step 12 employees make $67,078.68 and step 25 employees make $89,579.29.
  • For detectives: step 1 employees make $55,141.34, step 12 employees make $70,432.61 and step 25 employees make $94,058.26.
  • For sergeants: step 1 employees make $60,793.33, step 12 employees make $77,651.96 and step 25 employees make $103,699.23.
  • For lieutenants: step 1 employees make $63,832.99, step 12 employees make $81,534.55 and step 25 employees make $108,884.
  • For captains: step 1 employees make $70,375.88, step 12 employees make $89,891.85 and step 25 employees make $120,044.82.
  • For assistant chiefs: step 1 employees make $73,894.67, step 12 employees make $94,386.44 and step 25 employees make $126,047.06.
  • For chiefs: step 1 employees make $86,341.82, step 12 employees make $110,285.31 and step 25 employees make $147,278.99.

Are Sheriff's Deputies Leaving Macon Over Low Pay?

Few departing law enforcement officers have actually cited pay as a reason for leaving the department, according to dozens of deputy resignation letters obtained by The Telegraph through Georgia open records law.

While employees in the Warner Robins Police Department do make more money annually, the salary range for the department is much wider. The lowest end of that range is not far off from the starting salary for a sheriff’s deputy in Bibb County, but the highest salaries may require years of service and rising through the ranks.

Out of about 60 Bibb County deputy resignation letters from 2020 onward, only two mentioned pay as a factor for the officer leaving leaving. Neither of those former deputies went to Warner Robins or a neighboring jurisdiction.

Officers who have left have cited retirement, workplace concerns, career changes, out-of-state relocation and wanting more time with family, according to the letters.

Additionally, while police departments and sheriff’s offices have many similarities, there are also key differences. Sheriff’s offices are responsible for an entire county and often manage jails. The sheriff, who leads the office, is also an elected official, while a police chief is hired by a department or city government.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with The Telegraph.

Tags: Georgia  Macon Bibb  Macon-Bibb County  Bibb County Sherriff  law enforcement  salary  police officers