By Sarah Miller, Calvert County Times
HOLLYWOOD, Md. (July 24, 2015)—During the July 21 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) the commissioners voted to allow retired sheriff’s deputies to continue as contract employees without jeopardizing their pensions or having to start over with a whole new pension plan.
The BOCC voted 4-0-1 to approve the change. Commissioner Pat Nutter chose to recuse himself from the vote.
“I’ve been shot at, I’ve been cut, I’ve been peed on, and I’ve been run over by a bus,” said Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Steve Jones, adding that he has put in more than 25 years of service and has earned his retirement even if he chooses to work with the sheriff’s office as a contractor.
Fraternal Order of Police representative Tom Phelps attended the BOCC meeting to show support for the change, saying that deputies who have earned their retirement deserve the benefits.
The change will give the Calvert County sheriff the option to contract retired deputies and use them in support position in locations other than the courthouse, said Assistant Sheriff 4 Dave McDowell.