A shortage of detention officers and limited interest from job applicants are prompting the Ray County Sheriff’s Office to pursue higher starting wages in hopes of filling vacant positions. The matter was presented to Ray County Commissioners during a recent meeting.

Lt. Col. Tom Noon recently told commissioners three detention officer positions remain unfilled, with recent job advertisements drawing virtually no applicants. He outlined the department’s proposal to increase starting pay from $18.05 to $20 per hour to help address the shortage.

Noon explained the department’s starting wage has made it difficult to compete for applicants, particularly when other jobs offer comparable pay with fewer demands.

“They can go work at Walmart or McDonald’s and not be far off from where we’re at and have a much less stressful job,” stated Noon.

He noted applicants from a previous round of recruitment ranged in age from 18 to 20, requiring additional training before they could take on certain respons…