In a bid to aid staffing challenges, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners extended an agreement with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office for double overtime pay.
Sheriff Derek Sanders met with the commissioners on June 30, 2025, to discuss the extension of the memorandum until Dec. 31. The agreement took effect on Jan. 1 and ended on June 30, which necessitated an extension.
“Corrections staffing across the country and definitely in our state right now is rough,” Sanders said.. “Double (over) time is more of a retention effort than anything else.”
The memorandum stated that correctional facilities are facing challenges in retaining skilled and experienced corrections employees, and Thurston County is not immune from those challenges.
Overtime performed for other purposes will be paid at the regular overtime rate of time and a half.
The memorandum does not affect the holiday overtime rate, which will be paid at the normal rate.
Shift briefing is also not affected by the double overtime memorandum for personnel who are not backfilling due to short staffing.
The memorandum is between Thurston County, the sheriff’s office, corrections facility, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 618, which represents the county’s corrections deputies.
1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Callie
I know two absolutely straight arrow honest, experienced, corrections staff who were turned down by the county due to results of a "lie detector test." One is a former marine.
I have shared a household in the past with both individuals and I can assure that they don't use drugs, drink heavily, or carry on any illicit activity. They have excellent credit ratings.
What are they doing now? Working as corrections officers, of course, but not for Thurston County.
Thurston County - Please review your hiring practices. Are you screening out good people?
Saturday, July 5 Report this