Rockdale sheriff can't find enough staff to run new center

CONYERS - Rockdale County Sheriff Jeff Wigington has a bit of a problem with the new women&#39;s detention center that cost more than $2 million. He can&#39;t find enough staffers to run the place. <br> <br> Wigington says it&#39;s difficult to attract jailers because the county pays rookie deputies only $24,000 a year - less than $12 an hour. <br> <br> ``You could make more scooping ice cream,&#39;&#39; Wigington said. <br> <br> Rockdale usually houses about 40 to 50 female detainees. The remaining space, Wigington hopes, will eventually be used to house detainees from other counties, at a cost of up to $50 per night. <br> <br> The sheriff said he needs 20 to 25 deputies to run the facility at full capacity. He has seven now. <br> <br> Rockdale County commissioners are considering a salary overhaul that they say would increase pay for public safety workers, including jailers. <br> <br> A pay increase would be retroactive to July 1, Commission Chairman Norman Wheeler said. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re looking at where we are, but we haven&#39;t made any decisions yet,&#39;&#39; Wheeler said. <br> <br> ``The real challenge is recruiting good applicants to work for this kind of money,&#39;&#39; said Wigington, who has long lobbied the Rockdale County Commission to approve raises for sheriff&#39;s deputies. ``Once you get them, you have to worry about someone stealing them away.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Starting deputies in neighboring DeKalb County make about $10,000 more a year, plus a $1,000 signing bonus. <br> <br> Wigington said the women&#39;s jail will open in September. <br> <br> ``I&#39;m going to go ahead and open because I&#39;ve been saying &#39;next month, next month&#39; for a long time,&#39;&#39; he said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/192619