Courtesy Image
Pinehurst Police Chief Chris Humble knows keeping good officers is hard, especially with other neighboring law enforcement agencies that have better pay.
“The neighboring agencies, around us, we get along great and are each others backup, and assist each other,” said Humble. “But when we get an officer it’s not unusual at all to start recruiting that officer.”
He noted that several former Pinehurst Police Department officers are currently working for other agencies.
But a bill introduced to the State House could help rural cities with population under 5,000, pay their police officers.
House Bill 1354, also known as Good Pay for Good Police, was authored by State Rep. Carl Sherman Sr. (D-109) and the measure would change the way police officers are paid.
The bill was introduced on Jan 17 and was referred to Appropriations on March 3. The bill would apply only to municipalities with 5,000 or less population.
Pinehurst, according to the 2020 Census, has more than 2,200 residents.
According to the proposed bill, to be eligible for the minimum salary, a member of the police department must be full-time and annually file with the municipality an affidavit in the form and manner prescribed by the municipality stating that the member has never been dishonorably discharged by any law enforcement agency; and is not currently under investigation for alleged misconduct for which the member may be dishonorably discharged.
A municipality would be entitled to the assistance payment in an amount that equals the difference of $55,000 and the member’s salary as paid by the municipality.
The municipality may not reduce the portion of a salary paid to a member of the police department as a result of receiving an assistance payment for that member.
Not later than 30 days after the first day of a municipality’s fiscal year, the municipality must submit an application to the comptroller in the form and manner prescribed by comptroller rule to receive the assistance payment.
Humble said the bill, if passed, would help small municipalities keep good officers.
“We have a great city manager and city council, but the money and the tax base puts us in a certain situation a lot of times,” said Humble.
Humble took over as police chief in December after retiring with 30 years in law enforcement with Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, as a constable and a short stint with the Lamar University Police Department.
“You can cross the street here and make $7-$10 more per hour,” said Humble. “The guys don’t leave here because of personnel. When they leave it’s based on they have to support their families.”
Pinehurst is surrounded by the city of Orange.
He added that his new officers are being hired at the second to the highest pay level “so they can come in making more money.”
“A lot of people don’t realize that upping the pay makes us competitive,” said Humble. “From a chief’s standpoint, it gives you security from not having to worry about an officer leaving because of pay.”
District 18 State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd), whose district includes Hardin County, is one of the bill’s co-authors.
“Although no two police departments are one and the same, rural law enforcement offices have very unique challenges with far less tax revenue production to help adequately fund our officers,” said District 18 State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd). “The urban verses rural overlap knows no boundaries when it comes to public safety and the protection of our citizens back home.”
The Texas Legislation has reported an approximate $50 billion surplus in the current budget.