The Sheriff says he’s never complained about how much he’s paid.
Sheriff Chuck Jenkins
Frederick, Md (KM) There’s a bill before the Maryland General Assembly which would increase the salary of Frederick County’s Sheriff. He currently receives $125,000 annually.
A measure approved last week by the Frederick County Legislative Delegation would tie the Sheriff’s salary to the compensation of a lieutenant colonel with the Maryland State Police which is $193,000 a year. If the legislation passes, the new pay scale would take affect with the person elected sheriff in 2026.
In a recent appearance on WFMD’s “Morning News Express,” Sheriff Chuck Jenkins noted that his salary is below that of other police chiefs and sheriffs in Maryland, most of whom do not have as much as responsibility as he does. “I have never , ever, made an issue of the salary, what I make,” he said. “I enjoy what I do. I’m proud to do what I do here in Frederick County. I’ve never complained about the money.”
But he says he’s a bit unhappy that he’s making less than other sheriff’s and police chiefs in Maryland. “However, when I look at what other government officials are making, when I look at other police chiefs, other sheriffs around the state, who don’t have near the responsibilities as this sheriff in Frederick County–forget it’s me–but as the Sheriff’s in Frederick County, it chaps me a little bit. Sure it does,”: he said.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for patrol and criminal investigations. But it also operates the local detention center and provide security for the court house.
Last year, the Frederick County Legislative Delegation supported a bill to provide the Sheriff with a raise to $140,000 for the first two years of that person’s term in office, and an increase to $150,000 the last four years. The new pay scale would have covered the person elected to the post in 2022. It passed the State Senate, but it was defeated in the House of Delegates. Jenkins said this defeat was due to other legislators dislike of him. “Because I go down to argue against sanctuary state bills, and bills that are bad for our citizens,” he said. “The only time in history of the legislators that that happened.”
Jenkins was referring to was the tradition of “local courtesy,” where all legislators vote in favor of a bill that affects only one county in Maryland.
By Kevin McManus