On a consistent basis, Fulton County Sheriff’s Sergeant Keith Manners says he keeps losing colleagues. 

“We lost one yesterday to the Little Falls Police Department, yesterday was his final day. We lost one, two weeks ago to the Johnstown Police Department,” Manners said.

Manners, who is the president of the department’s PBA union, says the issue comes down to pay.

“When my deputy can leave here and go to the city of Johnstown or the city of Gloversville and make almost $15,000 more a year, that is a problem. We are not competitive,” Manners said.

“It makes it difficult to keep people. The vast majority of people that leave here, leave for more money,” said Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino.

The ongoing issue has left Giardino with a patrol staff of 14, even though he’s budgeted for 19. Manners says that’s resulted in officers being overworked.

"Non-emergency calls are going to take a lot longer. Before it was maybe 15 minutes to an hour, now you are going to have to wait for six hours or until the next shift because our priorities are going to be the 911 calls,” Giardino said.

“If I have a deputy working 16-hour days, they are tired and they are not getting enough sleep, they are not getting rest, the potential for accidents is higher,” Manners said.

Manners addressed his concerns in a letter sent to the Fulton County Board of Supervisors earlier this week. County legislators have been negotiating a new contract with the union since its last one expired two years ago.

“We are horribly insulted. We feel they do not care about public safety, they do not care about this office,” Manners said.

He says he’s “cautiously optimistic” the board will offer deputies a new contract that allows them to serve their communities and provide for their families. 

“It is a critical issue that has to be addressed,” Manners said.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Wilson did not return repeated phone calls requesting comment on this story.