The sheriff of east Georgia's Richmond County doesn't want to lose his deputies to better-paying jobs. He's asking county commissioners to help fund a pay raise. It's an issue counties across Georgia grapple with. New sheriff's deputies in Richmond County often make just under $29,000 a year. That's less than most counties of a comparable size in Georgia. Terry Norris is a vice president of the Georgia Sheriff's Association. He says police officers across the state struggle to make ends meet. "Most of these officers must take on other additional special jobs in the law enforcement field just to feed their families," he said. Richmond County sheriff Ronald Strength says deputies are leaving for better pay at the state highway patrol and the Atlanta police department. He has asked county commissioners for $2.5 million dollars to increase pay. That money would mean a $4000 pay raise for all deputies.
