Sheriff Mark Pettway made an early appeal to the Jefferson County Commission to consider allotting more money to his department to help keep deputies from leaving for other agencies in the area.

Pettway was at the commission meeting Thursday to accept an Alabama People Against a Littered State Governor’s Award on behalf of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Reserves, who were among several winter award winners. While he had the floor, Pettway acknowledged the largest-ever raise the county had given to persons in his department.

But he said he needs more to fend off the advances of other law enforcement agencies. He said his department is 70 employees down from an optimal workforce.

“After we train our deputies, they come and poach off of us because they get good, trained deputies to come and work for them,” Pettway said. “They’re paying more money and it is less work over there at those agencies.

“I can understand them leaving for better pay and less work,” he said. “But please, when it comes down to our salary next time around, please, please think of us.”