SSO Class & Comp Update: March 21, 2024

Dear SSOs,

We wanted to provide you with a few updates:

Market Study:

As you may know, the County is currently conducting a market study for the CSO and SSO classifications. This process can often be quite lengthy, especially for the study to be thorough and accurate. Originally the Sheriff’s Department had targeted a goal of February completion with an April adoption. The Department has now provided us with an updated timeline to include an executive review of the study in early July with a September adoption. The County has now designated additional staff to complete these studies for classifications spanning multiple departments and agencies. For classifications specific to OCSD (such as CSO and SSO), The Department is responsible for completing these studies internally. Currently two OCSD HR analysts are assigned to the study and they continue this work in addition to their regular duties. The Department contends that the requirement to utilize internal staff is the cause of the delay.

We understand this delay is disappointing to many of you. It is disappointing for OCEA staff, and you can be certain that ensuring your work is compensated fairly is one of OCEA's top priorities. Unfortunately, we have little control over the pace at which the Department completes these studies. We have stressed to Assistant Sheriff Cory Martino that this is a high priority. He told us he is similarly committed to completion as soon as possible.

We have scheduled recurring monthly meetings with Assistant Sheriff Martino to continue to stress the urgency of completing the study and receive progress updates. Our next meeting is scheduled for the week of 4/1/24, following his scheduled check-in with the Commander of PSD. We will continue to keep you all informed as we learn more. 

Boot Allowance Request:

We currently have a pending boot allowance request for CSAs and SSOs in jail settings. In order for these requests to be approved, they must include a safety justification and go through a safety assessment process. Your co-workers have already written the safety justification for SSOs in jail settings. 

Before proceeding with submission of this request to the Department, we are conducting a survey to determine interest. If you are an SSO in a jail setting, please complete this survey.

Please note: If the Department determines the boots are necessary for safety, the boots will then become required. The Department will also pay for the cost as outlined in the MOU.

If you have any questions please email Kerensa Schupmann (kschupmann@ocea.org) or Jessica Salazar (jsalazar@ocea.org).

In Solidarity,

Kerensa Schupmann
OCEA Labor Relations Representative

Publication Date: March 21, 2024