MONTICELLO — Calling the situation unacceptable, Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff urged the county legislators to complete a contract with correctional officers (CO's) working in the Sullivan County Jail.

Schiff said when the economy saw a downturn in 2008 and 2009 all county employees “stepped up” and worked more with less. However since that time, Schiff said, the county's CO's have seen a tremendous wage gap. Back then the difference in salary between a CO and a road patrol officer was $1,500 per year. Today it is $20,000.

“That is not acceptable,” Schiff said. “We have to do something with that. These are valued employees, and probably have the most difficult job in the county.”

He went on to say that the CO's work in a “horrific” environment. While they will soon move to the new jail, the working conditions of having to deal with the inmates will remain the same. “The things they are exposed to no one should be exposed to,” Schiff said.

This was the third month in a row that the county CO's showed up to the Legislature's full board meeting. On Thursday there was a large group of them, and some brought their young children along.

Undersheriff Eric Chaboty agreed with the points that Schiff stated. “There's a $20,000 disparity and that needs to be addressed,” he said.

Deputy Sheriff Brian Harrel said he has worked at the jail for 30 years. He also talked about the poor conditions the officers must work in, due to the nature of the job. He called the jail unsafe and a place where dangerous drugs are being brought in.

“I'm asking for you and your fellow legislators to support us and authorize the proper county officials to find the funding so that we can end this battle to make it possible for us to get paid as the professionals that we are,” Harrel said. “We realize that the disparity did not start with you, but we're asking for this to end with you.”

Legislature Chairman Luis Alvarez, who used to work in the sheriff's office, said their request is not falling on deaf ears. “You might not believe it but sometimes I lose sleep over it. I think about it because I was in your shoes for many years,” Alvarez said.

As the legislature is still reviewing the 2019 county budget, negotiations are ongoing and the legislators could not comment on the issue.