MCSO investigator: Accepting new position was good move

Lei Lani Stanley
Guest Columnist
Published: May 2, 2008

As a “new deputy” to the Madison Sheriff’s Office and a “casualty of the last election in Culpeper,” I would like to address several of the issues brought up by Charles P. McDowell of Reva. First of all, Madison Sheriff Erik Weaver did not let anyone go after his re-election or the proper phrase is “not reappoint” anyone. I would venture to say that anyone who left did so because the opponent did not get elected.

I am definitely not an expert on the financial aspects of a sheriff’s office, but I was with Culpeper for eight years and we had approximately 75 sworn personnel. The issue of salaries was always being discussed.

The Culpeper Sheriff’s Office did not have a range of pay for new hires; (when I was hired) it was whatever the sheriff wanted to offer the individual.
The majority of the deputies were not given raises based on their seniority or productivity. They were based on who they were and who they knew.

I was fortunate and had a fair lieutenant that did base his recommendations on productivity and work ethics. We had sergeants that had been with the sheriff’s office for 10-plus years and making just over what some of the deputies who had only been there a couple years were making.

I truly believe that if someone has put the time into their career that Warren (Capt.) Jenkins has since 1974 and Lt. Gary Harvey since January 1988, they should be compensated for their years of service and loyalty to law enforcement.

Maybe Mr. McDowell should check other surrounding agencies for comparable salaries of captains and lieutenants. It should also be noted that all Madison County sheriff’s deputies are currently certified.

Culpeper County Sheriff’s office has a starting pay of $33,928.99 for non-certified deputies. All of their deputies working evening/nights receive a shift differential of $.70 per hour and the starting salary of a new hire, certified deputy is $34,989.28. The CCSO also has a low, medium and high salary range scale in which the sheriff chooses their starting salary.

Prior to my applying for a position with MCSO, I had spoken with Lt. Gary Harvey and Lt. Donnie Michaels at a conference, who spoke very highly of the sheriff and the staff of the sheriff’s office. When I was offered a position with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, I had a lot to think about. One of my major concerns was, of course, pay, which is still a concern. I had also heard “rumors” about the sheriff.

I chose to accept the position with Madison, not to listen to rumors, and I truly believe it was the best move I have made in a long time.
I sincerely hope that Mr. McDowell does not have to live and support his family on a deputy’s salary. The citizens of this county should consider themselves lucky that they have the current sheriff’s office employees.

Nowhere else have I seen a sheriff who answers calls, backs up his deputies, attends so many community functions, marks on and off the air and is always available for his staff and community. This is a really great group of men and women who will do anything they can to assist each of you and they deserve the full support of their community as well as the board of supervisors.

As far as the vacant positions, I believe we only have one vacant position and that is for another full-time investigator. Should we be able to hire from within, we would then have a patrol position available.

If anyone would like to stop by my office, I would be more than happy to answer any questions and discuss pay scales as I have applied at other departments before choosing Madison County.

(Guest columnist Lei Lani Stanley is an investigator with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Contact her via e-mail at .)