Council takes quick steps to improve police officer pay

In about a decade, the Ritzville Police Department has hired, trained and then lost three entry-level police officers to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Ritzville Police Chief David McCormick contends the departures are primarily driven by the salary and compensation package offered by the sheriff’s office.

To compound things, lateral entry police officers are not banging on the local department’s door looking for jobs either.

When Hunter Klewin recently resigned to take a position as a sheriff’s deputy, McCormick opted to seek a veteran officer, advertising a lateral position. In other wor...