Pierce County Deputy Sheriff's Independent Guild

Press Release - Pierce County Deputy Sheriff's Guild Working Without Contract as Staffing Crisis Continues

Updated On: Jan 07, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2025

Pierce County Deputy Sheriff's Guild Working Without Contract as Staffing Crisis Continues

TACOMA, WA - The Pierce County Deputy Sheriff's Guild announces that as of January 1, 2025, its members are working without a contract following the expiration of their 2022-2024 collective bargaining agreement, impacting our ability to quickly and meaningfully address public safety crises and protect crime victims in our County.

Pierce County currently maintains the lowest police/deputy-to-population staffing ratio in Washington State, significantly affecting public safety service delivery across its extensive jurisdiction. The department serves a vast area of unincorporated Pierce County and contract cities with staffing levels that fall well below public safety planning best practices – working at less than a quarter of recommended patrol and investigative personnel levels based on population, crime rates, and geographic coverage requirements.

The staffing shortage is compounded by challenges in recruitment and retention, as neighboring agencies offer more competitive compensation packages, better equipment, and more sustainable working conditions. Pierce County deputies currently work with:
- Aging equipment and infrastructure
- Limited operational budgets
- Lower compensation compared to neighboring jurisdictions
- Significantly higher workloads per employee

We remain ready and eager to engage in meaningful negotiations with the incoming Sheriff and Executive to address these critical issues. Our goal is to work collaboratively with County leadership to develop solutions that will enhance public safety services for Pierce County residents while ensuring fair working conditions for our Deputies.

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Contact:
Pierce County Deputy Sheriff's Independent Guild Executive Board
www.PCDSGuild.com

The Pierce County Deputy Sheriffs Guild is a labor organization of approximately 305 members and has been in existence for decades. We represent the rank-and-file, fully commissioned law enforcement employees of Pierce County that patrol your neighborhoods 24/7. We are separate in name from our brothers and sisters who work in the corrections bureau. We are made up of the ranks of Deputy, Detective, Sergeants, Detective Sergeants and Lieutenants. We work together and in collaboration with like agencies to provide a safer, better, and more stable working environment for our members.