Dougherty Chief says too many officers are leaving - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Dougherty Chief says too many officers are leaving

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By Karen Cohilas - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Dougherty County's police chief told county leaders Monday he's still seeing officers leave his agency because of low pay.    Chief Don Cheek gave his annual report to the county commission.     Last year, he lost 14 of 56 employees, that's nearly 25% of the staff.    

He's lost more than half of his patrol officers over the last two years.   Most of the workers say they're leaving because of low wages and poor benefits.

Cheek said, "If another agency is offering anywhere from six to eight thousand dollars a year more, a signing bonus and a shorter period for retirement, you look at it side by side, which do you chose?  It's a fairly simple concept to grasp."    

Starting pay at DCP for post certified officers is just more than $13 an hour.

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