Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

Activity:

• March 29, 2019 3:05 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 29, 2019, 3:05 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Aaron,

   

  Thank you for your replies! We’ve indicated these updates on our site, and we can re-complete the request.

   

  We appreciate all your help,
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Completed
• March 28, 2019 5:19 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 28, 2019, 5:19 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Thanks.

   

  Here are my replies:

   

  2. “Indicate what New Hires were hired to fill New Positions newly created in the Sheriff’s Department since November 6, 2018.”

   

  The FY 2019 budget allocates the number of positions at the Sheriff’s Office. It would take a budget adjustment by the county commissioners to add new positions and this has not happened.

   

  3. “Indicate what New Hires are filling positions that had existed and were previously staffed but were filled by New Hires since November 6, 2018”

   

  All new hires are filling positions that were allocated in the FY2019 budget.

   

  Q5– “The reply says that the only qualifications for employment in any administrative position with the sheriff is to be fingerprinted/undergo a criminal background check in addition to taking a drug test. Please confirm that is what you meant to say. Sounds like a very open minded hiring system. Thank you for taking another shot at this original request.”

   

  This is correct, admin positions require a drug test, fingerprinting and criminal background check. Completion of BLET – Basic Law Enforcement Training – is for sworn officers only. Admin staff are not required to have completed BLET and I’m not aware of anyone on the admin side having that certification.

   

  Aaron Sarver
  Public Information Officer
  Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
  [email protected]

   

  All email to and from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is subject to North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

  ---

  Status: Clarification Provided
• March 28, 2019 4:57 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 28, 2019, 4:57 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Hi Aaron,

   

  We, understand. It is a lot of info. The request was Completed on your end. Someone later sent us a clarifying request for the same info, but referenced items in the original request and asked clarifying questions about each item. We merged the old and new request so that it could be “reopened’ while we ask you for clarification.

   

  Numbers 1 – 3 below are from the original Completed request. We “bolded” what the sender has sent us related to each item. On our website, we also responded to their questions with what we think is the correct response, using blue text to differentiate our words.

   

  In Q1 + Q4 we clarified this was Completed on your end and was a mistake on our part. For all others we said we’d ask you to please clarify. The only items that need your attention are Q2, Q3, and Q5.

   

  Thank you for your help Aaron!
  Sunshine Request
  ——-
  1. “New Hires since November 6, 2018 (Including: Title, FullTime/PartTime Designation, Employee Name, and Date of Hire or Start Date).”
  Q1 – No reply was offered.
  Please accept our apologies, this is our mistake! It looks like when we pasted the response from Aaron on Feb. 12, the chart he references didn’t also get pasted over. We’ve captured that response from Aaron now, and added it back into his message and status update from Feb. 12, beneath the text “Indicate Full Time or Part Time, Temporary or Permanent, Below is the employee name, title, hire date, full time/part time designation, and salary or hourly rate of new hires from 11/6/2018 to 1/26/2019.”

   

  The two additional documents he sent as “attachments,” were captured that day however, and can be viewed up top in “Documents” section on our page ^^^. Thank you!

   

  2. “Indicate what New Hires were hired to fill New Positions newly created in the Sheriff’s Department since November 6, 2018.”
  Q2 – No reply was offered. Maybe is it easier to think of this as asking if new hires are in new positions versus are replacing departed employees and that will show how many new employees are on payroll plus the details requested.
  We will ask for this clarification in our follow up to Aaron when we send.

   

  3. “Indicate what New Hires are filling positions that had existed and were previously staffed but were filled by New Hires since November 6, 2018”
  Q3 – No reply was offered. See above for explanation of the question.
  We will ask for this clarification in our follow up to Aaron when we send.

   

  Q4 – The response from the government to the questions on date: Feb 12, 2019, 2:11 PM said – Below is the employee name, title, hire date, full time/part time designation, and salary or hourly rate of new hires from 11/6/2018 to 1/26/2019. – and nothing was below. Maybe this has already been put together but just wasn’t attached. The original request was https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/buncombe-county-sheriff-department-hires-jobs-documents/
  Same as our response in #1 above. We have now added the chart to Aaron’s reply on Feb. 12.

   

  Q5 – The reply says that the only qualifications for employment in any administrative position with the sheriff is to be fingerprinted/undergo a criminal background check in addition to taking a drug test. Please confirm that is what you meant to say. Sounds like a very open minded hiring system. Thank you for taking another shot at this original request.”
  We believe the answer is given in Aaron’s response Re: “Required Qualifications for the Job”. He said, “Completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training often referred to as (BLET) is required for Patrol and Detective positions and, of course, for the Majors. All Sheriff’s Office employees including administrative positions are required to be fingerprinted/undergo a criminal background check in addition to taking a drug test.“

   

  However, we will ask him to clarify whether BLET, Fingerprinting, Criminal background check, and Drug testing are the only qualifications required for administrative positions, as well as all employees, or if there are any additional requirements.

  ---

  Status: Clarification Provided
• March 28, 2019 10:53 am

  5 years ago

  from: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 28, 2019, 10:53 AM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Ok, I’m trying to follow the thread, but I’m confused by the email on 3/5 regarding the clarifications needed.

   

  Can you break out and send me the questions re: what additional info is needed?

   

  Aaron

   

  Aaron Sarver

  Public Information Officer

  Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office

  [email protected]

  ---

  Status: Clarification Requested
• March 27, 2019 3:53 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 27, 2019, 3:53 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Good afternoon Aaron,

   

  Our apologies for not replying and thanking you for confirming receipt on this two weeks ago! We totally understand the zillion emails a day lifestyle.

   

  We just wanted to check back in and follow up on this request!

   

  Thank you,
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Follow up
• March 15, 2019 1:23 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 15, 2019, 1:23 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Yes and thank you!

   

  Sorry I didn’t respond, I get a zillion emails a day as we all do …

   

  Aaron Sarver

  Public Information Officer

  Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office

  ---

  Status: Government Processing Request
• March 15, 2019 1:20 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 15, 2019, 1:20 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Good afternoon Aaron,

   

  Hope you’ve been well! We just wanted to check in and confirm that you had received the clarification follow up email we sent 10 days ago?

   

  Thank you,
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Follow up
• March 5, 2019 12:41 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Mar 5, 2019, 12:41 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Hi Aaron,

   

  We hope you’re doing well! This request was “Completed” on our site in February. Thank you again for your help! For your reference, the full request details are here:

   

  Subject: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

  URL: https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/buncombe-county-sheriff-department-hires-jobs-documents/

   

  Since the time it was completed, we received a related follow up request in February and have “re-opened” the request for this reason. Please see the sender’s questions (hyphenated in black) and our responses to the sender (indicated in blue). We’ve clarified one or two items, and the rest are questions that could please use your clarification for the sender.

   

  03/05/19 Updated Request:

   

  “This request was marked as “Complete” on our site as of Feb. 13. After that, we received a new request for additional clarification:

   

  1. New Hires since November 6, 2018 (Including: Title, FullTime/PartTime Designation, Employee Name, and Date of Hire or Start Date).

   

  – No reply was offered.

   

  Please accept our apologies, this is our mistake! It looks like when we pasted the response from Aaron on Feb. 12, the chart he references didn’t also get pasted over. We’ve captured that response from Aaron now, and added it back into his message and status update from Feb. 12, beneath the text “Indicate Full Time or Part Time, Temporary or Permanent, Below is the employee name, title, hire date, full time/part time designation, and salary or hourly rate of new hires from 11/6/2018 to 1/26/2019.”

   

  The two additional documents he sent as “attachments,” were captured that day however, and can be viewed up top in “Documents” section on our page ^^^. Thank you!

   

  2. Indicate what New Hires were hired to fill New Positions newly created in the Sheriff’s Department since November 6, 2018.

   

  – No reply was offered. Maybe is it easier to think of this as asking if new hires are in new positions versus are replacing departed employees and that will show how many new employees are on payroll plus the details requested.

   

  We will ask for this clarification in our follow up to Aaron when we send.

   

  3. Indicate what New Hires are filling positions that had existed and were previously staffed but were filled by New Hires since November 6, 2018.

   

  – No reply was offered. See above for explanation of the question.

   

  We will ask for this clarification in our follow up to Aaron when we send.

   

  – The response from the government to the questions on date: Feb 12, 2019, 2:11 PM said – Below is the employee name, title, hire date, full time/part time designation, and salary or hourly rate of new hires from 11/6/2018 to 1/26/2019. – and nothing was below. Maybe this has already been put together but just wasn’t attached. The original request was https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/buncombe-county-sheriff-department-hires-jobs-documents/

   

  Same as our response in #1 above. We have now added the chart to Aaron’s reply on Feb. 12.

   

  – The reply says that the only qualifications for employment in any administrative position with the sheriff is to be fingerprinted/undergo a criminal background check in addition to taking a drug test. Please confirm that is what you meant to say. Sounds like a very open minded hiring system. Thank you for taking another shot at this original request.”

   

  We believe the answer is given in Aaron’s response Re: “Required Qualifications for the Job”. He said, “Completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training often referred to as (BLET) is required for Patrol and Detective positions and, of course, for the Majors. All Sheriff’s Office employees including administrative positions are required to be fingerprinted/undergo a criminal background check in addition to taking a drug test.“

   

  However, we will ask him to clarify whether BLET, Fingerprinting, Criminal background check, and Drug testing are the only qualifications required for administrative positions, as well as all employees, or if there are any additional requirements.”

   

  Thank you for your help Aaron!
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Sent to Government
• February 25, 2019 5:43 pm

  5 years ago

  Editor’s Note 02/25/19 – Please see notes in blue, above. This request is still “in Review” as of now, but will be Sent to Gov. shortly. Thank you! 🙂

  ---

  Status: Clarification Provided
• February 14, 2019 6:00 pm

  5 years ago

  02/15/19 Editor’s Note: This request was marked as “Complete” on our site as of Feb. 13. After that, we received a new request for additional clarification called, “Buncombe County Sheriff – Newly Created Positions vs Replacing departing employees”. We’ve “Closed” that request, and merged it with the current request above. For this reason, the current request will be reopened and marked as “In Review.” We will review and respond to / send to government next week as we’re able. The clarification requested is as follows:

   

  Subject: Buncombe County Sheriff – Newly Created Positions vs Replacing departing employees
  Message: “Thank you for providing the benefits information. Most of the other questions were not answered. The original request that was not answered could be reopened or this could be a new request.

   

  1. New Hires since November 6, 2018 (Including: Title, FullTime/PartTime Designation, Employee Name, and Date of Hire or Start Date).
  – No reply was offered.

   

  2. Indicate what New Hires were hired to fill New Positions newly created in the Sheriff’s Department since November 6, 2018.

   

  – No reply was offered. Maybe is it easier to think of this as asking if new hired are in new positions versus are replacing departed employees and that will show how many new employees are on payroll plus the details requested.

   

  3. Indicate what New Hires are filling positions that had existed and were previously staffed but were filled by New Hires since November 6, 2018.

  – No reply was offerred. See above for explanation of the question.

   

  – The response from the government to the questions on date: Feb 12, 2019, 2:11 PM said – Below is the employee name, title, hire date, full time/part time designation, and salary or hourly rate of new hires from 11/6/2018 to 1/26/2019. – and nothing was below. Maybe this has already been put together but just wasnt’ attached. The original request was https://www.sunshinerequest.com/records_request/buncombe-county-sheriff-department-hires-jobs-documents/

   

  – The reply says that the only qualifications for employment in any administrative position with the sheriff is to be fingerprinted/undergo a criminal background check in addition to taking a drug test. Please confirm that is what you meant to say. Sounds like a very open minded hiring system.

   

  Thank you for taking another shot at this original request.”

  ---

  Status: In Review
• February 15, 2019 4:08 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Feb 15, 2019, 4:08 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Aaron,

   

  We were having a great day the other day when you sent that email and are having an even better day today because it’s Friday!

   

  Hope you are too.

   

  Enjoy your weekend,
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Completed
• February 13, 2019 1:03 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  date: Feb 13, 2019, 1:03 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Great.

   

  Thank you and hope you’re having a good day!

   

  Aaron

   

  Aaron Sarver

  Public Information Officer

  Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office

  ---

  Status: Completed
• February 13, 2019 12:32 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Feb 13, 2019, 12:32 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Aaron,

   

  Thank you so much for your help with this request! We’ve marked this as complete on our site.

   

  Thanks again,
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Completed
• February 12, 2019 2:11 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  date: Feb 12, 2019, 2:11 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Since this is a pretty detailed request, my answer is part by part with the original question broken up, but in bold and italics, so that hopefully it’s easier to follow along,

  ” If any part of this information in this request is not immediately available, provide what is available promptly and indicate what parts of the information will be provided at a later date.

  Provide a list of the following:

  1. New Hires since November 6, 2018 (Including: Title, FullTime/PartTime Designation, Employee Name, and Date of Hire or Start Date).

  2. Indicate what New Hires were hired to fill New Positions newly created in the Sheriff’s Department since November 6, 2018.

  3. Indicate what New Hires are filling positions that had existed and were previously staffed but were filled by New Hires since November 6, 2018.

  For each of those Jobs/Positions that is in Sheriff’s Department Administration only please provide the following:

  Job Title,

  Classification,

  Job Description,

  Indicate Full Time or Part Time, Temporary or Permanent,

  Below is the employee name, title, hire date, full time/part time designation, and salary or hourly rate of new hires from 11/6/2018 to 1/26/2019.

  

  

   

  Required Qualifications for the Job,

   

  Completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training often referred to as (BLET) is required for Patrol and Detective positions and, of course, for the Majors.

   

  All Sheriff’s Office employees including administrative positions are required to be fingerprinted/undergo a criminal background check in addition to taking a drug test.

   

  To Whom the Person Reports (provide Title and Name of Supervisor),

   

  Detention Officers report to Major Fisher, Major Fisher reports to Sheriff Miller. Patrol Deputies and Detectives report to Major Eberhardt, Major Eberhardt reports
  to Sheriff Miller. Brenda Page and Aaron Sarver report to Sheriff Miller.

   

  Who Reports to that Person (provide Title and Names of people supervised by that person),

   

  See attached org chart for the Sheriff’s Office.

   

  Salary or Indicate it is Hourly and provide hourly wage,

   

  Salary and hourly wage info is included in the chart above.

   

  Bonus options or policy for the position,

   

  Benefits including paid vacation, flextime, pension eligibility, healthcare and health insurance plans for employee and family members, automobile usage, mileage reimbursement, free parking in County garages any and all benefits,

   

  See attached doc with benefits summary. Employees of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office have the same hr policies at Buncombe County Employees.

   

  Employees of the Sheriff’s office can receive pay raises, which would be permanent, but there are no “bonus options” for employees.

   

  Regarding parking, for employees that work in the courthouse annex (the new part of the courthouse) their is a secured parking deck for BCSO staff, is it not open to the public and it is not a pay deck, i.e. it is free for staff.

   

  Hiring Process including where and for how long the job was advertised and include the job notice posting or indicate that the job was not advertised and not posted,

   

  The Detention Officer position(s) are listed at https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/human-resources/default.aspx#sec-employment-opportunities
  Human Resources – buncombecounty.org
  www.buncombecounty.org
  Buncombe County wants to find the best qualified people available to serve its citizens. Everyone who applies cannot be hired, but your application will be given every consideration. Buncombe County is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, handicap, disability or national origin.
  The other positions were not advertised externally.

   

  EEOC Compliance,

   

  Yes, the Sheriff’s Office is in compliance with EEOC guidance.

   

  Hired Job Applicant Name,

   

  See chart above.

   

  all Resumes Submitted by Applicants for each position,

   

  all Hiring Documents including Applications submitted by each applicant,

   

  If any of these requested documents or information do not exist such as no applications were required or no resumes were submitted, please clearly indicate that.

   

  If any of these requested documents or information exist but cannot be provided due to statute, identify what is not provided and match it to the statute that you say prevents the release of that information. “

   

  This information is not public record. The relevant case law on this is Elkin Tribune Inc. v. Yadkin County Bd. of Commissioners.

   

  NC’s personnel privacy statutes also limit access to employees’ personnel files. This is covered under G.S. 153 A-98.

   

  Editor’s Note: Please note that the sender indicated on the form they submitted to our site that the timeline of this request should included Nov. 6, 2018 – Jan. 26, 2019.

   

  I believe this completes the request in full, please let me know if you need anything else or have clarifying questions.

   

  All the best,
  Aaron

   

  Aaron Sarver
  Public Information Officer
  Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
  [email protected]

   

  **Editor’s Note: Please see additional attached documents at top left in documents

  ---

  Status: Response Received from Government
• February 11, 2019 1:17 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Feb 11, 2019, 1:17 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Good afternoon Aaron,

   

  Hope you’ve been well. We just wanted to follow up and check in on this request!

   

  Thank you!
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Follow up
• February 4, 2019 3:23 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Feb 4, 2019, 3:23 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Aaron,

   

  Thank you so much for sending over all this detailed information. We appreciate your help with this request!

   

  Have a good afternoon,
  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Government Processing Request
• February 4, 2019 2:10 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  date: Feb 4, 2019, 2:10 PM
  subject: Re: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  I’m working to compile the information for this request and should have everything by the end of the week.

   

  A decent amount of this request is not allowable by NC public records law. I’ll detail piece-by-piece later, but this part of the request for resumes is clearly out-of-bounds according to North Carolina Public Records Law:

   

  all Resumes Submitted by Applicants for each position,

   

  all Hiring Documents including Applications submitted by each applicant,

   

  The relevant case law on this is Elkin Tribune Inc. v. Yadkin County Bd. of Commissioners.

   

  NC’s personnel privacy statutes also limit access to employees’ personnel files. This is covered under G.S. 153 A-98.

   

  All the best and more soon,
  Aaron

  ---

  Status: Government Processing Request
• January 30, 2019 3:45 pm

  5 years ago

  from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
  to: Aaron Sarver <[email protected]>
  date: Jan 30, 2019, 3:45 PM
  subject: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Good Afternoon Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office,

   

  We’ve received a request via www.sunshinerequest.com for information that may be available in your office.

   

  Here are the details of the request:

   

  Subject: Buncombe County Sheriff Department – Hires, Jobs, and Documents

   

  Message:

   

  ” If any part of this information in this request is not immediately available, provide what is available promptly and indicate what parts of the information will be provided at a later date.

   

  Provide a list of the following:

   

  1. New Hires since November 6, 2018 (Including: Title, FullTime/PartTime Designation, Employee Name, and Date of Hire or Start Date).

   

  2. Indicate what New Hires were hired to fill New Positions newly created in the Sheriff’s Department since November 6, 2018.

   

  3. Indicate what New Hires are filling positions that had existed and were previously staffed but were filled by New Hires since November 6, 2018.

   

  For each of those Jobs/Positions that is in Sheriff’s Department Administration only please provide the following:

   

  Job Title,

   

  Classification,

   

  Job Description,

   

  Indicate Full Time or Part Time, Temporary or Permanent,

   

  Required Qualifications for the Job,

   

  To Whom the Person Reports (provide Title and Name of Supervisor),

   

  Who Reports to that Person (provide Title and Names of people supervised by that person),

   

  Salary or Indicate it is Hourly and provide hourly wage,

   

  Bonus options or policy for the position,

   

  Benefits including paid vacation, flextime, pension eligibility, healthcare and health insurance plans for employee and family members, automobile usage, mileage reimbursement, free parking in County garages any and all benefits,

   

  Hiring Process including where and for how long the job was advertised and include the job notice posting or indicate that the job was not advertised and not posted,

   

  EEOC Compliance,

   

  Hired Job Applicant Name,

   

  all Resumes Submitted by Applicants for each position,

   

  all Hiring Documents including Applications submitted by each applicant,

   

  If any of these requested documents or information do not exist such as no applications were required or no resumes were submitted, please clearly indicate that.

   

  If any of these requested documents or information exist but cannot be provided due to statute, identify what is not provided and match it to the statute that you say prevents the release of that information. ”

   

  Editor’s Note: Please note that the sender indicated on the form they submitted to our site that the timeline of this request should included Nov. 6, 2018 – Jan. 26, 2019.

   

  Thank you for your assistance!

   

  Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Sent to Government
• January 29, 2019 10:48 am

  5 years ago

  Submitted to Sunshine Request

  ---

  Status: Pending