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Rank and file Law Enforcement Officers, SC
Department of Corrections Officers, Probation and
Parole Officers, State Troopers and State Transport
Police are paid far less in South Carolina than
their counterparts in other Southeastern States. A
report from the SC State Budget and Control Board's
office of Human Resources shows.
Entry level South Carolina State troopers earn
$26,632.00 a year, $8300.00 less than in neighboring
states. The disparity is smaller among Lieutenants,
Captains and Majors. The Patrols Captains are paid
1.4% below the regions average and Lieutenants are
paid 5% less on average.
The pay disparity also effects the ranks within the
Departments of Natural Resources, Parole and pardon,
corrections and Juvenile Justice.
The report from the Budget and Control Board states
that across the board pay raises are an ineffective
answer to correct the problems that exists, and
would fail to target the ranks that are
significantly below the Southeastern average.
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (R) has
proposed in his executive budget(2005) $28 Million
for Law Enforcement pay increases. Which if
implemented, would produce an approx. 2% across the
board pay increase. Governor Sanford has stated he
is against across the board pay raises and wants
more discretion given to Departmental Agency
directors to target those raises where the need is
greatest.
The South Carolina Police Benevolent Association
supports the Governors initiative to increase the
substandard pay situation For Law Enforcement
Officers and encourages our members, friends and
supporters of Law Enforcement to contact their SC
House and Senate members and ask for their support
to this initiative.
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