A North Mankato police officer running for Faribault County sheriff says he will cut his salary and the chief deputy’s if elected.
Last year, Sheriff Mike Gormley was paid a base salary of $132,579 and Chief Deputy Scott Adams had gross earnings of $145,824. In 2020, Gormley earned $128,822 while Adams made $155,611.
Jacob Kral obtained the information from Lexi Scholten, central services director for the county, after submitting a data request.
“It’s pretty absurd for a county our size and population. It’s just ridiculous, the chief deputy makes almost as much as the Blue Earth County sheriff,” says Kral.
Base salary information shows that Adams was paid $42.94 an hour last year, while the department’s most senior road deputy’s hourly rate was $29.31 and had total earnings of $76,107.
Gross wages for Adams and the senior deputy include hourly pay, overtime and paid time off.
Based on an average work week of 40 hours for 52 weeks, that means Adams’ overtime pay totaled more than $56,000 in last year and nearly $69,000 in 2020.
Kral says in the past 16 years Gormley has made some positive changes, but it is time for a fresh perspective, enthusiasm and excitement for the position.
“On day one, I will move to have the chief deputy’s position to salaried and also request that the sheriff’s salary be adjusted to make funds available to hire another road deputy,” he says. “An additional deputy will help with deterring crime by being more visible to the public.”
In addition to the pay cuts, Kral hopes to focus on employee retention and recruitment in what he calls “a critical time” in law enforcement.
“It’s getting harder to hire jailers, dispatchers and support people. They are critical. Without them our county would be in shambles. They are essential workers,” he says.
Holding the justice system accountable and making sure victims of crimes are heard will be another goal Kral will strive for.
He says in December of 2017 he was a victim of a burglary and the former county attorney did not file charges.
Kral says the suspect was well known to county authorities as well as regionally and also was charged in other separate cases.
“The county attorney at that time failed to contact me as a victim before a plea deal was offered,” he says. “Criminals have more rights than victims. That needs to change. That’s not OK.”
Kral says he plans to work with federal and state lawmakers to address the issue of victims rights.