At nearly every Sedgwick County Commission meeting, one county employee who is about to retire is honored and thanked for her public service. Most days, the longtime employee graciously accepts his retirement clock, a certificate and words of appreciation from county commissioners.
This morning, though, Sheriff Sergeant Shane Brazil, who will retire April 1 after 22 years of service, used his opportunity to speak to point fingers at an administration that he said does not value the sacrifices law enforcement officers make every day. He said the county doesn't pay a fair wage or offer incentives to keep officers from taking other jobs.
Watch the video of this morning's commission meeting and what Sgt. Brazil says about County Manager Bill Buchanan. (Click on the video for March 28. When the video window appears, click on "C. Presentation of Retirement Clocks.")
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
And the retirement clock goes to...
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10 comments:
Too bad he was so unhappy with his job he stayed 22 years. did they make him work there?
The reactions of the commissioners and the county manager were pretty hilarious. They just sat there and didn't know how to take it or respond. The people cheered and clapped as the officer left.
It's been the talk of the courthouse all day.
He made all county employees look bad. Not everyone shares his opinion. As a county employee, I like my job and appreciate the pay and benefits I receive. I agree with the first poster as well. Why do you stay somewhere for 22 years if you're so angry?
This guy carries a gun! His supporters do too! I can only assume Sheriff Steed required a drug test on someone so angry Wow. He is an embarrassment t the law enforcement community
I do not want the Sheriff deputies to protect me. They are way out of bounds. Where was Steed? He has lost control .
I saw the news clip: talk about burning bridges. There's a time and place for everyhting and this was not it. Would you want to hire the guy?
Why did he stay 22 years? Because he loves what he does and he KNOWS he made a difference!
Angry? Where do you get that he's angry? Granted, I wasn't there, but he sounded to me like a concerned citizen trying to make a point.
No, he didn't make other county employees look bad, he was trying to make a point.
Yes, he carries a gun and you should be ding-danged happy that he DOES.
How many of you would work at the job that this Officer has for 22 years no matter what the pay or benefits were? My money is on NONE of you. Do you know what Sedgwick County Sheriff Officers make a year? Do you know what their benefits are? Would YOU do it for what they're getting when they can get the same job someplace else for more pay and more benefits?
I agree, Officer Brazil didn't make other county employees look bad, he was trying to make a point.
Where would you people be if the Sheriff Officers & the Paramedics of Sedgwick County stopped doing their jobs because the County Manager & Commissioners continue to get pay raises and better benefits even when we don't? Why do we stay? We like Wichita, we like our coworkers, we care about the citizens of Sedgwick County. If all the Officers and Paramedics left because of the way they are treated, do you realize what you would be left with?? You would have Officers WITHOUT experience, defending you and your property and Paramedics WITHOUT experience taking care of you and your loved ones.
Some say we should stick up for ourselves. We have, the Paramedics tried to get a union and the wonderful County Commissioners WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE us. That means we were not allowed to form a union. It is "ok for the Sedgwick County Fire Fighters to have a union because they are District 1 and not really Sedgwick County". The Sheriff Officers have also tried to get unionized but did not try and complete the process because the Commissioners refused the Paramedics. Do you know what Sedgwick County Paramedics make a year? Do you know what their benefits are?
Here is the deal. The Sedgwick County Commission has ALWAYS been a rag-tag bunch of legislative wanna-bees that only looked out for themselves. From the days of the Coliseum being built on land bought by then County Commissioners and sold to the county at exhoribitant prices, these clowns have been in charge of your tax dollars.
I served for 8 years on the S.O. and left for twice the money. Brazil spoke the words that most of the deputies are afraid to say because they could lose their jobs for talking to the press.
You want professionsal law enforcement? Pay them what QT managers make and respect them for the job they do.
Here's the real deal. You people are talking like these sheriff's officers don't make any money. Well get this, right now, at 18 years of age with only a high school diploma (or maybe even a ged for that matter) you can be a detention deputy and make about $13.50 an hour. That's almost $28,000 a year without overtime. Don't believe me, look at their website and they are hiring. These guys need to get a clue. Yes, we appreciate what they do. No, I for one do not appreciate their complaints about the money I as a taxpayer pay them. If you want more money, go back to school.
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