Pa. Court Rules in Favor of Deputy Sheriffs

The state Supreme Court ruled today that Allegheny County deputy sheriffs should be considered police officers for purposes of collective bargaining.

March 27, 2012

The state Supreme Court ruled today that Allegheny County deputy sheriffs should be considered police officers for purposes of collective bargaining.

In a 4-2 decision, the state`s high court overturned a lower court ruling. The issue stemmed from a dispute with the Allegheny County Deputy Sheriffs` Association. The group filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board seeking to represent deputy sheriffs under Act 111 for collective bargaining purposes. Act 111 governs collective bargaining rights for police officers and firefighters, according to the opinion.

"Our inquiry … ends with the recognition that the General Assembly expressly defined – and thus authorized – deputy sheriffs of counties of the second class to be police officers," Justice Seamus McCaffery wrote for the majority.