Officer hired as county’s chief deputy
WAYNESBURG – One of Waynesburg’s newly-trained commercial vehicle enforcement officers accepted a full-time position as chief deputy of Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
Marcus Simms began the new job with the sheriff’s department June 16 and was formally hired by the county’s salary board two days later.
Simms, who recently completed training to become one of Waynesburg’s two certified truck inspectors, will remain working full-time for the borough police department. He will work daylight shift in the sheriff’s department as first in line behind Sheriff Brian Tennant.
Tennant said he did not see an issue with Simms holding two jobs. He added Simms has been working part-time for the sheriff’s department since April.
“Marcus and I have talked extensively and had some discussions with his wife to see if there are any concerns on their part,” Tennant said. “Marcus says he’s young and he feels comfortable doing it, so that’s what he’s choosing to do.”
Waynesburg police Rob Toth also met privately with Simms after learning about the hiring, although he declined to elaborate on what was discussed at the meeting.
“We’ll see what he does over there,” Toth said. “Our schedule is not going to change.”
Simms and Officer Shawn Wood completed their Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program training courses in May, but still must perform a total of 32 field-training sessions with a supervisor by the end of the year.
Toth could not predict whether the second full-time job might impact the remainder of the inspection training schedule for Simms.
“I hope it doesn’t affect it,” Toth said.
Simms has been a full-time borough police officer for two years. He also previously worked for the sheriff’s department as a deputy.
Simms will oversee daily operations in the sheriff’s office and direct deputies on their assignments, Tennant said. He will be paid a salary of $38,000.
“He’s been doing the job (part-time) without any problem,” Tennant said. “I have full faith he can do the job.”
County Commissioner Archie Trader, a member of the salary board, voted against the decision to hire Simms out of concerns he would be holding two full-time jobs and stretched too thin.
“I’m worried about that,” Trader said Friday. “I think it’ll work itself out and he’ll do either one or the other.”