Somerset Co Sheriff’s Office Faces Challenges as They Request Pay Increase

(SOMERSET CO. Md) – The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is facing a problem: How to keep their ranks fully staffed.

Sheriff Ronald Howard says it has been difficult, not just for them, but law enforcement agencies across the Eastern Shore. As Somerset is trying to keep pace with more competitive salaries at local, state and federal levels.

“…Just the Lower Shore. We’re fighting over that small group of young men and women who want to be law enforcement. And it all goes back to a lot of them, these agencies are able to offer higher salaries than what Somerset County offers,” says Sheriff Howard.

Sheriff Howard has proposed a raise of $20,000 per deputy to the Somerset County Council.

The Council intends to mull it over when it discusses the annual budget later this year.

Sheriff Howard says, “…I received a phone call last Tuesday saying that they preferred to address the salary matter with our budget year, which starts in July of this this year.”

Having to wait up to six months for the county to pass their annual budget is six months they potentially don’t have. And he walks us through some of the cuts that could potentially happen if they can’t come to an agreement on this pay dispute.

Changes that could include patrols being reduced from round the clock to five days a week.

And this leaves some Somerset County residents we spoke with on the fence with how to feel about it.

“It’s kind of a double-edged sword kind of thing for me because I understand the needs of our community and there are lots of different needs that would help the local people here. But I understand, you know, for law enforcement purposes that we need to have deputies…” says Princess Anne restaurant owner, Dale Parker.

WMDT reached out to the Somerset County Council, they responded, “The requested increase is significant, and as we approach the time to begin preparing for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget cycle, we will consider the Sheriff’s request and work with him for a fiscally sustainable solution.”