Baltimore City Sheriff?s Deputy Lt. Michael James earns a base salary of $53,900. But last fiscal year, James nearly doubled that to $94,140, thanks to more than 1,500 hours of overtime.
James and 168 fellow Office of the Sheriff employees ran up nearly $1.4 million in overtime, nearly tripling the $520,350 the city budgeted for fiscal 2006.
A Sheriff?s Office spokeswoman said the agency needs the overtime pay because it is understaffed and has to keep up with the blistering pace of criminal justice in Baltimore.
“We are so short in terms of personnel,” Sgt. Carla Lightsey said. “That?s not a huge figure. When you?re short across the board, knowing you have to perform these duties, you do what you can.”
Lightsey said the overtime money is paid for by federal grants when deputies work with the Baltimore Police Department on “Safe Zone” projects in which authorities target heavy enforcement at specific problem areas.
Lightsey said the department asked the Maryland Legislature during the last session for 35 more positions but was rebuffed.
The office has 90 deputies ? with 29 positions unfilled ? charged with law enforcement duties, including providing courthouse security; serving court documents, peace orders and arrest warrants; and transporting prisoners.
“The biggest thing is, we need more bodies,” Lightsey said. “Every time they add a judge, that requires us to supply an officer to provide security. It stretches our manpower. We do the courts, but we also have to serve all the paperwork, and that?s where the overtime comes in.”
Lightsey said the department doesn?t force anyone to work overtime but allows individuals to volunteer.
“We askand get volunteers,” she said. “We have a duty that needs to be done. You have officers that say, ?I?ll step in and help.? ”
Sheriff Department Base Pay/Overtime/Total
1. MICHAEL JAMES ? DEPUTY SHERIFF LIEUTENANT ? 53,902.00/40,238.24/94,140.24
2. DWAYNE McNATT ? DEPUTY SHERIFF ? 46,614.00/39,263.22/85,877.22
3. FREDERICK JACKSON ? DEPUTY SHERIFF LIEUTENANT ? 61,595.00/37, 199.03/98,794.03
4. ANTHONY RUSSO JR. ? DEPUTY SHERIFF ? 47,504.00/36,048.59/83,552.59
5. ARTHUR SEABROOK ? DEPUTY SHERIFF ? 47,504.00/34,169.81/81,673.81
6. SEAN L. BROOKS SR. ? DEPUTY SHERIFF ? 40,860.00/29,089.12/69,949.12
7. LEWIS TUGGLE JR. ? DEPUTY SHERIFF ? 45,742.00/26,963.86/72,705.86
8. SHANTAE JOHNSON ? FOSTER OFFICER ? 32,617.00/26,741.98/59,358.98
9. MARK CZARSKI ? DEPUTY SHERIFF ? 47,504.00/24,132.57/71,636.57
10. KERRY WILLIAMS? OFFICER ? 29,006.00/22,513.18/51,519.18
Click here to download the complete file of Sheriff Department overtime.
