Rison Renews Police Contract With CCSD

RISON - The Rison City Council unanimously approved renewing its contract with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department to provide police protection for the city for another year. Sheriff Jack Rodgers was in attendance at the city council's regular monthly meeting as it decided to take action on the contract Tuesday night rather than wait until later. Rodgers, who told the council during its July meeting he would submit a contract for them to look at, did not formally address the council but was there to answer any questions. City Treasurer Rhonda Thompson said this latest contract with the sheriff's department is for $118,008. Under the agreement, the sheriff's department provides the city with two deputies to conduct patrols and other police business. The contract also makes the sheriff's department responsible for vehicles, uniforms and equipment. Thompson said the new contract price reflects a $10,000 increase over last year. Mayor Charles Roberts said the price increase reflects the pay raise the county gave to the sheriff deputies to help the department keep and recruit officers, which Rodgers explained had become an issue due to low pay. In February, the Cleveland County Quorum Court unanimously approved increasing the starting pay for a new deputy to $17.50 per hour; the lieutenant's position to $18 per hour; and the chief deputy's position to $18.50 per hour. Previously, the starting pay for a deputy was $15.15 per hour. Since the pay increase was implemented, Rodgers reported to the quorum court that he has been able to maintain staff plus recruit some new deputies. Mayor Roberts told the council he could understand the cost increase in the contract due to those higher salaries. During the city council's July meeting, Roberts said it would cost the city about $300,000 to staff its own police department plus about another $200,000 to buy the equipment to start it. "I think it (a contr...