Local Public Safety Workers Leave Home for Danger, Riches Abroad

South Carolina -- Brushing news of bombings and beheadings aside, at least 16 area public safety employees have found more than enough reasons to venture into war-torn Iraq.

In fact, they have found about 100,000 of them.

In a decision fueled more by potential monetary gain than patriotism, local police officers and firefighters have decided time spent overseas as private contractors will yield long-term dividends that far outweigh the short-term risks.

Although officials say the contract industry is key to the redevelopment of Iraq, local public safety agencies and families of the contractors have been burdened by the loss of workers and loved ones.

"I would have to work four years here to take home what I'm making over there in a year," said Joe Udy, a 38-year-old Horry County firefighter leaving Monday for Iraq.

The salary figures in the overseas contract industry are staggering, especially when compared with domestic rates of pay.

Officials from local agencies say the average midlevel police officer or firefighter makes about $25,000 a year before taxes. In a year in Iraq, Udy and many others will bring in about $100,000 - without paying a cent in U.S. taxes.

"After they told me what they were going to make, I'm sure that money is the biggest reason for going over there," said Capt. Jim Arnold of the Georgetown city police, which has lost three officers to contract work in the past month.

The recent beheadings and kidnappings of Americans have forced those considering a move abroad to weigh their financial futures against leaving their families and the possibility of losing their lives.

"Knowing that I'm leaving my family behind is the toughest part," said Udy, who said he isn't fazed by the death toll. "After a year of sacrifice, we can be in a much better place. That makes it much more worth it."

The family's goal is to pull themselves out of debt and prepare to pay for their sons' futures. Eight-year-old Benjamin is autistic and would benefit from expensive assisted living. Josh, 10, wants to go to college one day. The family says the only feasible way to turn those goals into reality is for Dad to head abroad.

"My first initial reaction, being a woman, is that I didn't want to be without him for a year," said his wife, Holly Udy. "But we both love the fire service, and it's great for his career. We had to make a bigger decision when he joined the fire department. The way I look at things is that somebody has to do it."

Covering the loss

Horry County's public safety agencies, already spread thin in the rural western portions of the county, have been the hardest hit. The police force has lost six members to contract work in the past year, while the fire and rescue squad is losing Udy and two others in the span of a month.

Although officials say the departures haven't caused significant problems so far, the agencies have had to shuffle personnel. Throw in the additional loss of workers due to National Guard deployments, and many agencies are struggling just to find employees.

"It hurts, but hopefully, in the next few months, we will be able to find replacements," said Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Garry Alderman. "But we are always looking for paramedics, and to lose one of those hurts."

Other agencies that have lost workers include the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety, the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office and the Murrells Inlet/Garden City Fire Department. All have lost one employee each.

The majority of local agencies involved say they will try to find spots for former employees when they return. However, nothing is guaranteed.

"It's been somewhat rough for us," said interim Horry County Police Chief Johnny Morgan. "We have tried to fill in the best we could. ... If we have openings at the time, workers coming back will have to start at entry-level positions and work their way back up."

Weighing pros, cons

Although the desire to serve his country played a part in his decision, Udy says the bottom line is what eventually lured him into a career change.

After learning about the opportunities at Firehouse.com, he submitted a resume and participated in a telephone interview. Udy learned two weeks ago he had the job. His plane tickets for the three-day orientation arrived last week.

That's when he broke the news to his sons.

"I waited to tell my sons because I didn't want to tell them until I knew for sure I was going," Udy said. "Josh's only response was 'cool.'"

During his one-year stay in Iraq, Udy will make $94,000; the number, he says, is much higher for officers and more experienced contractors.

In addition, the Surfside Beach resident will get a one-week vacation every four months.

Wackenhut requires its employees to remain continuously employed and live outside the United States for 330 days per year to receive the tax exemption.

Udy says if he decides to leave, he's free to do so at any point. However, if he leaves within the first six months, he will have to pay airfare costs to return home.

Udy and his family are planning on a multiyear stay.

"I can be debt-free in a year and have a down payment on a house," said Udy, who has been a firefighter for two years. "If I can stomach it for a year, we're looking at doing it three to five years. By that time, we'd have a house and college tuition paid for. It's five years of sacrifice for the rest of our lives."

For others, the risk isn't worth the possible reward. Nearly every local agency said their officers have been courted by one or more contracting companies.

Although many have accepted jobs, the majority have dismissed them from the onset. Others, including Corp. James McDowell of the Loris Police Department, have wavered on whether to go or stay.

McDowell accepted a $75,000 job with DynCorp International to work as a police officer in Iraq. However, weeks before his shipout date, second thoughts and pleas from his wife and mother convinced him to back out of his commitment.

He admits it wasn't an easy decision, especially for an officer from a small town where he said a rookie cop would likely make about $18,000 a year.

"My motivation is probably different from most other guys," said McDowell, a former Marine. "There isn't money within the law enforcement community. It's a shame that a law enforcement officer has to go overseas to make money."

McDowell's potential salary could have grown had he spent several years overseas. On www.policemission.com, DynCorp says that senior police advisers and section chiefs could make as much as $100,324 a year.

"My family and I figured we'd make the money another way," McDowell said. "I'm a patriotic man, and I didn't have a choice in the Marines to say I'm not going. I can make that choice now."

Dangers abroad

Subcontracting has become a multibillion dollar industry. Estimates say anywhere from 100-500 contractors have died in Iraq; precise numbers aren't available.

Wackenhut has told Udy he will be stationed on a secure base and would only be forced to leave in the event of an off-base plane crash.

"We're on-base firefighters only," Udy said. "We don't have to leave the base unless we just want to. We don't have to have any off-base contact if we don't want to."

Other assignments are less secure. Blackwater Security Consulting, the employer of former Horry County police Officer David Randolph, has a much higher visibility in providing security for Ambassador L. Paul Bremer.

DynCorp has 1,000 workers in Iraq helping to provide law enforcement.

Reports said four contractors who were killed and hanged from a bridge in March worked for Blackwater, based in Moyock, N.C. That company won't comment on the dangers its employees face abroad.

Before resigning his post as a K-9 handler earlier this year to head overseas, Randolph told his family not to speak with the media because it could turn them into a possible terrorist target, Lt. Saundra Rhodes of the Horry County police said last week when The Sun News attempted to contact the Randolph family.

Nancy Parker of Murrells Inlet understands the fears of the workers and their families. In May, her son, Daniel Parker, 56, was killed by an explosive while working for Halliburton just outside Baghdad, Iraq.

Such stories may contribute to anxieties, but they haven't dissuaded Udy and others.

"The basic shock and amazement of most people is something else," Udy said. "Most people really want to know 'Am I really going?' I want to ask 'Why aren't you going?'"

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