Sheriff Questioned on Accountability During Retirement Program Request

A heated exchange ensued between Carroll County Sheriff Andy Dickson and Commissioner Dan Willman during Carroll County's Law Enforcement Committee meeting Wednesday evening, December 17.

Sheriff Dickson presented a proposal, requesting a “Hazardous Duty Retirement Supplement” for full-time law enforcement and corrections employees.

PROPOSAL - Sheriff Andy Dickson holds up a document explaining details of the retirement benefit. Jesse Joseph/Carroll County Observer

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He said the plan is designed to boost recruitment and retention by enhancing retirement benefits.

If enrolled, the program would add an extra 0.375% of credit per year of service for eligible officers.

Dickson said the supplement would cost the county a one-time buy-in of $328,774, followed by a $10,687 annual recurring expense.

“It doesn’t pay as much as the bridge benefit, but it gets you fully to the onset of Social Security,” Dickson told the committee.

To fund the buy-in, Dickson proposed using new upcoming revenue generated from the jail’s recent Tier 1 certification, which earns an additional $6 per day for every state inmate housed.

The Sheriff said that would be about $125,000 annually based on last year’s average.

“I don’t see us ever getting less than $125,000 a year,” he said.

He also noted that the drug fund currently holds around $380,000 in savings, and could be used strategically to offset the cost by purchasing patrol cars outside the general budget.

“The county usually budgets for four patrol cars each year,” Dickson said. “The state allows us a one-time purchase with the drug fund money. We can use that to purchase the vehicles and use what the county allots us for the buy-in.”

“We’ve tried to generate our own revenue so it doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything,” he added. “I’m not asking for new money, I’m just asking to use what our staff worked hard to bring in.”

Accountability Concerns

The discussion turned tense when Commissioner Willman questioned the timing of the proposal in light of recent incidents.

ACCOUNTABILITY - Commissioner Dan Willman questions Sheriff Andy Dickson about several issues during the committee meeting. Jesse Joseph/Carroll County Observer

“I think this is a great idea,” Willman said, “but I struggle with public perception right now. I’ve asked several times about accountability, and I’ve gotten no reply. Multiple people have come to me with concerns and I can’t ever get any answers.”

Willman brought up the drag racing incident from October, as well as a recent incident in which he said he was almost hit head-on by a county patrol vehicle in a no-passing zone.

Dickson responded that he had already spoken with the Observer about the drag racing incident and disciplined those involved. He did not address Willman’s other claim.

“Why didn’t they get ticketed?” Willman asked, speaking of the deputies involved in drag racing.

“I’ve been in this job for 34 years, and I’ve never written anybody a ticket for drag racing — not once,” Dickson replied.

“Shouldn’t they be held to a higher standard?” Willman responded.

“I fired one of them,” the Sheriff replied.

“If you have a problem with me, that’s fine,” Dickson added. “But don’t hold it against my employees that I’m asking for this.”

Willman maintained that his issue was transparency and accountability, not the employees themselves.

“These guys deserve it,” Willman said. “It’s just tough when I go to you privately and don’t get answers. What do I tell the people?”

Committee Tables Proposal

Following the exchange, Committee Chairman Jimmy McClure clarified that the proposal’s buy-in had not been budgeted.

DISCUSSION - Committee Chair Jimmy McClure asks clarifying questions. Jesse Joseph/Carroll County Observer

Dickson confirmed it would be included in next year’s budget request, with about 60–63 employees eligible for the benefit. He said it would also retroactively include two retired officers, David Bunn and Jackie Wallace, once they turn 60.

“It’s just one more edge we can offer that nobody else in the state has right now,” Dickson said. “Montgomery County is the only other department to have adopted it.”

After more clarifying discussion, the committee voted to table the measure, and forward it to the Budget Committee meeting on Thursday, December 18, for further review and cost analysis.

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Sheriff Questioned on Accountability During Retirement Program Request

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