Deputies ask state to investigate Yakima County over layoffs

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Citing what they call a less-than-transparent budget process, Yakima County sheriff's deputies want the state to investigate whether the county retaliated by laying off deputies for questioning the use of voter-approved tax increases.

The Law Enforcement Officers Guild on Tuesday filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the state Public Employment Relations Commission, which handles disputes between public employers and employees.

Guild President Eric Wolfe said the guild believes deputies are being targeted for layoffs while the county withholds budget information.

"We believe part of the motivation is we have called into question the way they have handled the three-tenths money as far as the sheriff's office is concerned," Wolfe said. He added other county departments have not suffered the same job losses.

Deputies contend the three-tenths of a cent sales tax voters approved in 2004 and continued in 2009 was to have paid for extra sheriff's services, including hiring more deputies.

During the 2004 campaign -- before the recession -- Irwin promised to add 14 commissioned officers to the 63 then on staff.

Instead of adding deputies, the county reduced the number of sergeants and line deputies by 10 to 52 currently. Sheriff Ken Irwin has maintained that he was forced to eliminate positions because of increasing costs and lower funding from general county revenues.

But the deputies have not bought that argument.

"Our members understand that times are difficult and that everybody needs to do their share of the belt-tightening," Wolfe said in a news release announcing the complaint. "But this does not appear to be any part of an across-the-board action."

Irwin and Commission Chairman Kevin Bouchey said they had not been informed of the complaint and declined comment. Bouchey said comments are inappropriate because of ongoing contract bargaining with the deputies.

The guild also contends the county has withheld budget information it needs to determine how many deputy positions are funded.

Seattle attorney Jim Cline, who represents the deputies, said the county's budget process is more complicated than other jurisdictions.

"Eventually, the county is going to have to cough up the documents it is holding back," he said in the news release. "With or without the county's cooperation, we are going to get to the bottom of how it is spending these tax dollars."

Deputies also say the county was obligated to bargain the layoffs of three deputies announced last year. Two were subsequently laid off and one deputy retired.

Irwin further angered the guild by deciding not to rehire one of those deputies when former deputy Sean Moore resigned after pleading guilty to an on-duty assault of a woman at her Selah home last year.

The guild complaint asks the commission to restore positions, reimburse deputies subject to layoffs and demotions for loss of wages and other compensation, and provide collective bargaining information.

* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.