Watch: Sheriff Swank Expresses Frustration Over Stalled Contract Talks

Ongoing Contract Dispute in Pierce County Sheriff’s Office

Six weeks after the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies overwhelmingly rejected a contract offer for a 10% raise over three years, there has been no progress in negotiations. The impasse continues to be a significant issue, with no signs of resolution in sight.

Sheriff Keith Swank shared his frustration with the situation, stating that the negotiations have reached an impasse and will likely go to arbitration. “We’re still at an impasse and it’s going to go to arbitration, unfortunately,” he said. “The executive hasn’t budged. The problem is I don’t have a say in the compensation package and what they get paid. I should have a say in that, but I don’t.”

On June 9, the Pierce County Deputy Sheriff’s Independent Guild delivered a rejection of the contract offer by a vote of 290 to 1. The guild emphasized the importance of public safety in the county and the need for fair compensation for the officers who serve the community. Their news release stated, “Public safety in Pierce County starts with the men and women who wear the badge. They deserve more than lip service. They deserve a contract that reflects the risks they take and the service they provide. The Executive’s offer simply doesn’t deliver.”

Swank reiterated his desire to have a voice in the negotiations, explaining that he worked for Seattle for 33 years and had input in similar situations. “I worked for Seattle for 33 years. The chief had a say in it. I have no say in it. We’re sitting in a negotiating room with the union, with their attorneys, and we all came to an agreement, and we say, ‘OK, let’s move it forward.’ The executive has the authority and final say, and he said no,” he said.

The County Executive's Office is responsible for negotiating the contract with the union representing the deputies. The Pierce County Deputy Sheriff’s Independent Guild represents rank-and-file deputies and actively negotiates for their wages, benefits, and working conditions with the County Executive's Office.

According to the guild, Pierce County ranks at the bottom in Washington for police staffing per capita, which hampers the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to keep pace with growing demands across a vast jurisdiction. Chronic underfunding and below-market pay have pushed the county further behind in the fight to recruit and retain qualified deputies.

Swank highlighted the competition from other agencies, noting that agencies around the area are offering higher pay. “Agencies around here are getting paid much more. We are competing with Tacoma, which pays a lot more per officer. We do a lot of other things. We have the jail, they don’t. We have the property room, they don’t. We police more people in unincorporated Pierce County and University Place and Edgewood than they do,” he explained. “We police over half the county ourselves, so they’re [deputies] running from call to call to call, and we need to compensate them fairly.”

The guild even encouraged deputies to look for work in other law enforcement agencies, suggesting that the County Executive’s Office is not willing to provide meaningful compensation. They linked to job applications for nearby police departments in Tacoma, Bonney Lake, Puyallup, and Gig Harbor.

Despite the ongoing dispute, Swank hopes that qualified applicants will consider joining his department. “This sheriff’s office is the best place to work. I’m not just saying this because I’m the sheriff. There are so many cool things to do here. You could be on the SWAT team, search and rescue, swift water rescue. It’s very diverse,” he said.

If fully staffed, the department would have 330 deputies. Currently, it has 300 deputies. Swank noted that the number is low, but he is not going to ask for more personnel when vacancies remain unfilled.

Data shows that the average entry-level deputy in the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office makes an hourly wage of $59.45, while their counterparts at the Tacoma Police Department make $69.80. For deputies with more than 20 years’ experience and a college degree, the hourly compensation is $85.56 in Pierce County, compared to $101.81 for a Tacoma police officer with the same experience.

Swank mentioned that Auburn police recently agreed on a contract for a 20% pay raise over three years. “It’s like 12%, then four and four,” he said. “We need at least that.”

The Center Square reached out to Mello’s office, but it did not respond to a request for comment.