Layoff notices go out to 160 Wayne County Sheriff Deputies

Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Wayne County Sheriff Deputies will begin to receive layoff notices as a result of the 10 percent cut to their budget.

About 160 deputies will soon begin receiving notices via certified mail, John Roach, spokesman for the Wayne County Sheriff's office, said today.

The layoffs will not be take effect until Oct. 26, which gives the department more time to work out issues with the Hamtramck jail, he said.

"That at least gives us some time to do some planning," Roach said. "We are going to be working very hard to make sure this process is handled as responsibly as possible to reduce any potential risk associated with having to release some prisoners.

Last month, the Wayne County Commission passed a budget of about $86 million for the Sheriff's Office that includes the elimination of 122 officers and 57 civilians in the Sheriff's Office, but prevents the Hamtramck jail from closing. It included an early retirement package to save $3.1 million and using a pool of retired and part-time officers to save about $4 million.

The departmental cuts will cause some units of the jail to close, but will not be nearly as severe as those projected by Sheriff Warren Evans more than three months ago.

Under the retirement package, deputies will be allowed to leave and return as provisional employees for about six months at a lower pay grade with no county benefits. The savings is projected on the department hiring replacements.

There are 296 employees who are eligible for the package, but it's expected about 150 will accept the offer, Sledge said. The package, which depends on the union's approval of a contract, must be finalized by Dec. 1.

You can reach Darren A. Nichols at (734) 462-2190 or dnichols@detnews.com.