Pierce County Council promises $1.5 million in bonuses for sheriff’s deputies
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- Pierce County Council approved $5,000 one-time bonuses for eligible deputies.
- Council tapped $1.5M from fund balance to finance retention payments.
- Staffing shortages and departures led to public pressure for more funding.
Each deputy who has worked for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office for at least 90 days will be eligible to receive a $5,000 one-time payment, after the county council approved an amendment to its biennial budget Dec. 2.
The decision follows a heated meeting Nov. 25, when many residents urged the council to postpone the adoption of the budget until they had increased funding for the sheriff’s office. They accused the council of not doing enough to address deputy shortages. Over 200 people submitted similar comments in writing in advance of the meeting Nov. 25.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has battled vacancies for years, but the staffing issue has drawn heightened attention in recent months as the union representing the department’s rank-and-file deputies works out a new bargaining agreement with the county. Negotiations have been ongoing for over a year and are headed toward arbitration, The News Tribune reported.
Meanwhile, several deputies recently left the sheriff’s office for the Tacoma Police Department, raising questions about the county’s ability to compete with other local jurisdictions in pay and hiring incentives. Vacancies are taking their toll on deputies working longer shifts to cover absences, and residents are concerned about long wait times, particularly in the county’s rural areas, The News Tribune reported.
A new budget amendment, sponsored by Pierce County Council member Dave Morell, allocates $1.5 million for “one-time end of year retention payments to eligible badged (commissioned) full-time law enforcement employees of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office subject to bargaining with the Pierce County Deputy Sheriffs’ Independent Guild.” The county is dipping into its fund balance, or rainy day fund, to increase spending in the Miscellaneous Current Expense category of the general fund.
“This incentive will show our deputies we care, we understand and we appreciate the work that they do,” council member Morell said at the meeting. “Keeping experienced deputies ensures Pierce County’s citizens keep valuable, knowledgeable and trained officers.”
Morell’s amendment initially stated that employees must have worked at least 30 days for the sheriff’s office to receive the retention payment. Council member Rosie Ayala made a motion to extend that period to 90 days, which the council approved. The council passed the updated amendment unanimously.
Ann Jolie, a Gig Harbor-area resident who has been vocal in recent months about the need for more deputies, thanked the council for showing support for county law enforcement, and said that “it’s a small step.”
“I think the positive that’s come out of this is there’s a grassroots movement out there,” she said at the meeting. “People are aware, they’re knowing what’s happening with our sheriff’s department and they’re stepping forward to support them. So I hope that you all continue to come together every time to support our men and women in blue, and I appreciate what you did tonight for the community and for our deputies.”
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM.
