Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511150065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
This week, they got their wish - with barely more than a month to go before Wells retires.
Wells announced the new policy manual when he went before the county Board of Supervisors Tuesday to get approval for one of his new policies - reimbursing retiring employees for unused sick leave.
Other county employees already receive this benefit on retirement, as do state employees in the offices of the treasurer, commissioner of revenue, and clerk of the circuit court.
The board will vote on Wells' request Nov. 27.
Under the policy, Sheriff's Office employees who will retire at the end of this year will be reimbursed by the county for 20 percent of their unused sick days, up to $2,500.
Four employees, including Wells, will be retiring this year, and their reimbursement would cost the county about $10,000, Wells told the board.
Sheriff-elect Mike Brown, who can change or scrap the new manual when he takes office in January, is reviewing it.
All five candidates for sheriff in this year's election said they would start a policies and procedures manual if elected.
The clamor for a manual began in 1993, when three deputies were suspended for drinking on duty. Some members of the Board of Supervisors said Wells needed to have a written policy limiting the use of alcohol by undercover officers and prohibiting all other employees from drinking on duty.
Some former deputies say a policy was drafted soon after that, but Wells didn't release it.
The issue came up again last year when an intoxicated off-duty deputy crashed a county-owned vehicle. The deputy resigned and was later convicted of driving under the influence.
by CNB