The Roane County budget committee met Monday afternoon at the courthouse to decide on possible salary increases for new hires for Roane County deputies and raises for current ones.

The Rockwood City Council approved hiring three police officers who have over 25 years of service as an officer. David Cunningham and Matthew Trentham will be joining the Rockwood police officers, hopefully starting this week. Also, the council approved promoting RPD officer Dustin Arnold to detective. Most if not all police departments in the area have had issues with keeping officers on board due to officers leaving for better pay elsewhere. That’s the reason the County Commission budget committee met to discuss this with the Sheriff’s Department. Rockwood police officers’ starting pay is around $16 an hour.