New Castle County police and first responders' salaries will be increased

New Castle County government’s top earners in 2023 continue to include members of the police department and other first responders, as well as some administrative officials.

Delaware Online/The News Journal analyzed salary data and showed 49 employees earned over $150,000 in 2023, 10 more than employee data showed last year.

Employee wages consistently make up a large portion of the county’s annual budget.

The FY25 budget proposal shows that around 62% of all operating budget funds will go to personnel costs, an increase of around 5.2%.

SEARCH SALARIES: State of Delaware Salary Database 2023

County Executive Matt Meyer proposed additional pay raises for police departments and increased funding for fire and emergency medical services in the southern parts of the county in the county’s most recent budget address. The increases are necessary in part to attract and retain county workers, he said.

The district has over 2,600 employees included in this year’s database.

According to 2022 census data, New Castle County residents’ annual per capita income is $44,725, with an average household income of $85,309.

More:New Castle County is taking over management of the Hope Center after an audit of the previous operator revealed billing problems

Who were the highest earners in New Castle County?

Eleven of the 20 highest-paid employees in New Castle County are police officers.

The county’s highest-paid employee in 2023 was Police Maj. John W. Treadwell, although severance pay accounted for more than half of his total annual salary of $255,782.

Treadwell has been with the county police force since 1994 and serves as a volunteer and member of numerous behavioral health task forces and committees throughout the state. He also taught at the Citizens Police Academy and was awarded the 2022 Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for outstanding public service benefiting local communities.

Last year’s top earner, Public Safety Director Vaughn Bond Jr., is now the 19th highest paid with an annual salary of $168,346.

County Executive Matt Meyer, who is nearing the end of his term and running for governor of Delaware, earned $177,813 in 2023, making him the 11th highest-paid employee in the county.

The 20 Highest Paid Employees in New Castle County

Police Major John W. Treadwell, $255,782
Senior Police Sgt. Jennifer L. Bunora, $220,778
Police Chief Joseph S. Bloch, $198,390
Chief Administrative Officer Vanessa Sheler Phillips, $189,611
Police Maj. Benjamin W. Feldman, $185,936
Senior Police Sgt. Hector L. Garcia, $185,536
Police Maj. Laura M. O’Sullivan, $181,833
Police Lt. Brent M. Snyder, $181,316
Assistant District Attorney II Laura T. Hay, $178,196
Jeffrey P. Miller, emergency communications director, $178,115
County Executive Matthew S. Meyer, $177,813
Police Capt. Michael J. Bradshaw, $175,782
Police Captain Patricia Davies, $175,532
Emergency Medical Services Lieutenant Matthew W. Watson, $175,295
Police Lt. Daniel E. Guzevich, $173,198
Police Captain Diane R. Smith, $172,898
Rescue Service Sr. Lt. Joseph J. Dudle, $172,740
Tracy Zlock Surles, general manager of the Department of Public Works, $168,346
Public Safety Director Vaughn M. Bond Jr., $168,346
District Attorney Wilson Buckmaster Davis, $168,346

New Castle County made over $13 million in overtime pay, according to the 2023 payroll database.

The county has struggled to retain first responders, leading to County Executive Meyer’s proposed pay raises for police departments and investments in fire and emergency medical services.

As a result, most of the increased overtime pay was paid to paramedics and police officers in management positions.

Twenty employees earned more than $50,000 in overtime pay in 2023, but none earned more than their regular salary.

Emergency Medical Services Lieutenant Matthew Watson earned about 75% of his regular salary through overtime pay, being paid $74,945 in 2023, the highest amount in the county. He had a total salary of $175,296.

Other high overtime earners included Senior Assistant Platoon Commander James D. Rosseel, who earned $74,868 in overtime and a total salary of $162,980; and paramedic Cpl. Scott Sizer, who earned $70,157 in overtime and a total salary of $163,338.

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact them at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

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