Half-staffed during period of rapid growth, Effingham County Sheriff's Office seeks new hires
Chief Deputy Richard Bush can never predict what his schedule will be. He enjoys the daily rigors of manning the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the thrill of the unknown is what has kept him going for more than 30 years.
“It is awesome,” said Bush. “We have a very unique and great office here. One day I am doing something out in the streets, the next day, I am doing something else. You are always running across different people in the community. You are always doing something different.”
But this year has presented challenges that are not so exhilarating. The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is experiencing a massive staffing shortage.
There are 64 positions and 32 openings.
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On Thursday, the sheriff’s office will host a recruitment event from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the WorkSource Coastal Effingham Job Center in Rincon. The ECSO is in need of 18 officers, 14 deputies and several school resource officers. Deputies man the jail and transport inmates, among other duties, while officers respond to calls on the street. FedEx Savannah will also be accepting applications at the event.
“Hopefully these recruitment events will help alleviate some of the workload on our jail officers and we’re able to get more deputies out patrolling our neighborhoods,” said Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.
Bush said there are opportunities for advancement but it’s a job: “You definitely have to want it.
“There are so many that get into it and think it’s one thing, but it’s another,” said Bush. “The others want to be of service to their community and they are doing what they love. You either love it or you don’t. The guys and gals in the jail work just like we do. They all have an opportunity to move up and better themselves.”
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Whether it be escorting a family to and from a funeral or responding to calls within the county, the department is pulled multiple directions each day. But despite the lack of help, Bush said his staff is committed to serving the community and will respond to calls when they are needed.
“Our job is all about safety,” said Bush. “It all comes down to safety. We are there for roads, schools and businesses. We are called out to respond when something goes wrong. During the day, there are plenty of people here that can help people on the street. I have investigators that can reach out and help.”
The county has struggled to retain deputies. Bush said some have left for higher wages in Savannah.
“Our county is doing the best they can right now,” said Bush. “They have done pay studies and they have brought the pay up. It’s kind of hard to compare to Chatham County because they are bigger. We have lost folks in the past to Chatham County because they pay more. I know that is the case in some places. Some find jobs with better hours or closer to their home.”
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Bush encourages anyone interested in working for the sheriff’s office to join their ride-a-long program. “The public can come, sign a form and ride along with a deputy,” said Bush. “If someone is considering getting into law enforcement, they can learn what we do. I assure you they will be busy.”
Growing county means more incidents, need for larger staff
During the state of the county breakfast earlier this year, Bush addressed concerns about growth in the county. Deputies are tasked with covering 482 square miles, a fairly large amount for a small staff. He said growth can present challenges the general public is unaware of, saying when new construction goes up, everything from drug transactions to theft can happen in or around newer structures. Even materials left on site could be of value to someone desperate to make a few dollars.
“You can’t control what a guy on drugs does or an alcoholic,” said Bush. “Sometimes they may steal an item because they can pawn it for money.”
Last year, the sheriff’s office responded to 63,000 incidents within the county. Whether it be a speeding car, DUI or criminal trespassing, deputies have had their hands full, but Bush said his staff is doing all they can despite the circumstances.
“Anytime you have people moving in, you are going to have issues,” said Bush. “We get the good people and the bad people. We get those that mind their business and we get those that don’t. We have been trying to man the fort the best we can. We all work together.”
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Effingham County Sheriff's Office hosts recruitment event in Rincon GA
