FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2025

Tacoma, WA — The message is loud and clear: Pierce County’s law enforcement professionals have overwhelmingly rejected the County Executive’s inadequate contract proposal—sending a resounding vote of no confidence in his approach to public safety. With a record-breaking 97% turnout, deputies delivered a near-unanimous 99.7% verdict: 290 to 1 rejected County Executive Ryan Mello’s contract offer.

Public safety in Pierce County starts with the men and women who wear the badge. They deserve more than lip service. They deserve a contract that reflects the risks they take and the service they provide. The Executive’s offer simply doesn’t deliver.

Pierce County currently ranks at the bottom in Washington State for police staffing per capita, crippling the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to keep pace with growing demands across a vast jurisdiction. Chronic underfunding and below-market pay have pushed Pierce County further behind in the fight to recruit and retain qualified deputies.

Meanwhile, surrounding agencies offer better pay and working conditions, pulling candidates away and pushing current deputies to the brink. Our deputies are leaving. Approximately 17 deputies are now looking to leave the Sheriff’s Office for the Tacoma Police Department.

County voters consistently rank public safety as their top concern. But instead of investing in the deputies who protect our communities, the County Executive is turning his back on them. He’s refusing to fund what residents clearly want and what public safety clearly needs.

The Guild remains committed to working toward real solutions—for safer neighborhoods and a contract that keeps top talent in Pierce County.

The ball is in the Executive’s court. It’s time to stop playing politics with public safety and listen to the public and what they want and deserve.

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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.

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCDSGuild

Please take a few minutes to listen to this in depth conversation Guild President Shaun Darby just had with Jason Rantz on Wednesday evening’s show. 

The full audio interview is here —> https://shows.audiocdn.com/s/bonneville/highlights-the-jason-ran-d1649a/shaun-darby

Print article —> https://mynorthwest.com/jason-rantz/just-doesnt-care-shaun-darby/4093230

Please take a look at our recent news coverage. We appreciate the time all of our media contacts took on these stories. 

“The math is right there,” Darby said. “We are underpaid, understaffed and overworked.”

 “They have a lot of money, and they have a very good financial outlook. If they simply could prove that they didn’t have the money then I would listen to them, but we’ve just proven the argument.”

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article306923021.html

https://komonews.com/news/local/sheriffs-union-tells-deputies-to-look-for-other-jobs-if-they-want-fair-pay

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_fd54f8fa-ec48-4968-b004-1baea965081d.html

To Our Members,

Your Guild negotiations team has been in the bargaining process with the County for over 1 year, with no headway. The County Executive’s representatives and your Guild are nowhere near reaching an agreement that we as a team representing you feel is a fair agreement. 

Staffing levels at PCSO are at the same level as 20 years ago.  We are last in staffing numbers for the nation.  You have a heavier workload than any agency in our county, let alone probably the state.  If you were on the fence waiting for the County to come to a fair and acceptable wage and compensation package to make a decision about your life and family's future, stop waiting.

We are aware that there are individuals in our membership wanting fair compensation for their working and safety conditions. We are here to tell you that if you are waiting for meaningful compensation from the County Executive’s office regarding your future, he is not willing to compensate you for it and we, as a bargaining team, suggest you further your professional career elsewhere. 

We, as a team, asked the County for a written offer that we could present to our membership to show you how the Pierce County Executive’s team values the work you do.  They provided it to us, and we will present it to you. We will conduct a membership vote in the coming weeks about the proposal.

For your convenience, I have attached a few hyperlinks so you can look at what other agencies think that you are worth.

City of Bonney Lake https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bonneylake?

City of Tacoma https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/tacoma/jobs/3364982/experienced-police-officer-lateral?keywords=pol

City of Puyallup https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/puyallup/jobs/3869840/police-o

Gig Harbor (plus retirement medical) https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/gigharbor/jobs/4189137/police-officer-lateral-entry?pagetype=jobOpportunities

Lakewood https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lakewoodwa/jobs/newprint/3908665