Deputies vow to file complaint over unfilled slot

Frustrated by yet another vacancy in their ranks, Yakima County sheriff's deputies say they are preparing a labor complaint against Sheriff Ken Irwin.

The prospect of a filing with the state's Public Employment Relations Commission had first been raised when Irwin announced late last year that budget problems would force him to lay off three deputies and demote several supervisors.

But the issue surfaced again this week when Irwin informed union leaders that he would not fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Deputy Sean Moore, who pleaded guilty to several felonies in connection with an on-duty attack of a woman and her friend at her Selah home last year. He awaits sentencing.

The president of the Yakima County Law Enforcement Officers Guild, Deputy Eric Wolfe, said Wednesday that he expects the union's Seattle attorney to file the complaint by the end of the week.

It's expected to allege that Irwin and county budget officials haven't properly negotiated the layoffs with the union and that they haven't done enough to prove that the layoffs are financially necessary.

"As far as we can tell at this point, they have targeted us and they have failed to provide the documentation indicating otherwise," Wolfe said.

The county maintains that contract language makes layoffs the sole responsibility of the county.

Irwin rejects the idea that the union has been pinpointed for layoffs and said the budget picture is too unclear to allow bringing back deputies.

"It would be irresponsible for me to hire someone now," he said.

Irwin said he had started considering leaving Moore's position unfilled before the deputy resigned due to unpredictable financial conditions. A layoff would have been possible at some later point in the year, in part because an unspecified member of his command staff chose not to retire, Irwin said.

Fuel prices and sales tax revenue are other unknown factors. Irwin said his projections show the agency could end up $8,000 in the red by the end of the year even with the layoffs.

The expected savings from the retirement would have helped to keep a deputy position, although the person would have been shifted to marine enforcement instead of patrol.

Wolfe said not filling Moore's slot would leave 52 deputies and sergeants, primarily assigned to patrol. Irwin, two chief deputies and a lieutenant are the agency's other commissioned officers.

Even at peak staffing of 68 in 2007 and 2008, the sheriff's office has never come close to the conventional standard for rural agencies of one officer per 1,000 residents.

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.