By Chris Taylor/Paducah Sun
Paducah, KY – The 16-member Paducah-McCracken Charter County Government Commission decided yesterday that if a potential city-county merger happens, the current makeup of the county sheriff's department and the city police force would remain unchanged. The sheriff would remain the county's chief law enforcement officer and continue to be an elected official, while the city police chief would be would be overseen by a new metro government council. The Paducah Sun reports the pay disparity between city officers and county deputies played into the commission's decision, with most members opting to keep the status quo. Paducah Police on average make over $10,000 more annually than their county counterparts.