Sheriff’s deputies are getting pay increases in new contract with Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County supervisors approved a four-year labor agreement with sheriff’s deputies including base salary increases of 3% a year, along with equity pay.
County officials negotiated the new contract with the Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association, a union representing 210 patrol deputies, detectives and other law enforcement personnel. Essentially the increases are 17% spread over four years.
An initial 3% raise goes into effect this month, followed by the same increases effective Jan. 1 in 2026, 2027 and 2028. The agreement costing the county $16.5 million also includes a 3% equity increase this month and 1% increases effective Jan. 1, 2026, and Jan. 1, 2028.
“We came to a good spot with the Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association,” Supervisor Terry Withrow said at Tuesday’s board meeting. “We said all along we would get to (an agreement) that works for everybody and we have another good contract with our sworn deputies.”
Members of the sworn deputies association approved the terms of the contract in a March 19 vote. But a union leader didn’t think the contract is enough to support full staffing. About 11% of the 210 allocated deputy positions are vacant.
Randon Kirkbride, president of the deputies’ bargaining group, said the contract is still below average when compared to other agencies. “I don’t believe it will help us retain people or help us attract lateral transfers from other departments,” Kirkbride said.
He said the tactics of a county-hired attorney served to stretch the negotiations beyond the Dec. 31 expiration date of the previous contract. Kirkbride suggested some members supported the agreement because of concerns about working without a contract and misinformation about the impasse process.
“It was a typical deal with the county — take it or leave it,” Kirkbride said.
The agreement, also updating language pertaining to seniority, vacations, safety equipment and mutual aid, will run from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028.
According to a county staff report, about 68% of the costs will come out of the general fund. A fiscal analysis and financial modeling showed the contract won’t have a detrimental impact on the county’s fiscal health and operations, the report said.
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
