08/17/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 17, 2026
Sheriff's Office addresses Rumors about Deputy Pay and Overtime
Union, W.Va. — Sheriff Michael Heller of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and the Monroe County Commission, is issuing this statement to address rumors that have been circulating about deputy pay and nighttime law enforcement coverage. Some of what has been shared in the community is inaccurate, and the Sheriff's Office wants to make sure residents have the facts.
“I understand these rumors have caused concern, and I want our community to know the truth,” said Sheriff Heller. “Our deputies are protecting this county twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and they are being paid for the work they perform, including overtime worked on after-hour calls. I won’t let misinformation stand in the way of the trust this community has in the Sheriff’s Office.”
Clearing Up the Rumors
Our deputies have always been compensated for overtime work. Any time a deputy is called out and reports to duty during off-hours to respond to a call, that deputy is paid for that time in accordance with department policy and applicable law. This has not changed.
The Sheriff's Office also wants to reassure residents that law enforcement coverage in Monroe County continues around the clock. Deputies remain available to respond to emergencies overnight.
What Deputies Are Actually Requesting
The request currently under discussion is not for unpaid overtime for hours that our deputies have actually worked. Deputies are asking to be paid overtime for time spent “on call.” They are asking to be paid overtime for periods when they are not actually working but are available to respond if needed and dispatched on a call. During these “on call” periods the deputies are not at the office, and they can freely engage in personal activities.
The Commission and Sheriff Heller take the concerns of the men and women who serve this office seriously and is reviewing this request through the appropriate budgetary and administrative channels, including discussions with the Monroe County Commission. Compensation of our deputies is from taxpayers’ dollars, and those decisions must be made responsibly and, in a manner, consistent with the county's resources and obligations to
taxpayers. We have insured that every deputy who is called out, at any hour or day, is properly paid. The County is now being threatened with a lawsuit if they do not receive back pay for hours that they did not work. The Commission and Sheriff agree that taxpayers’ dollars are not intended to pay deputies for sleeping while waiting for calls at night. The citizens of Monroe County work hard for their money, and their tax dollars should not be squandered.
Our Commitment to the Community
The deputies of this department are dedicated public servants who continue to respond to calls, patrol our roads, and keep this county safe day and night. The Sheriff's Office is committed to ensuring that the deputies are fairly paid for their work and that Monroe County taxpayer dollars are not mishandled.
