Birmingham - The newest group of Jefferson County Sheriff deputies must wait to start work. They are the latest one's caught up in the county's money troubles.

But some laid off deputies showed the deputy recruits that their certificates can open other doors.

Seventeen recruits were sworn in as deputies for several Alabama departments, but one name stood out- Brandon Massey.

Deputy Brandon Massey graduated as a class officer and received three awards. But he is one of eleven Jefferson County deputies who trained without pay and has no job.

"Right now, I am just waiting," said Massey.

Massey and the other recruits' pay was cut October 16 and at least 20 deputies were laid off when Sheriff Mike Hale was forced to cut ten million dollars from his budget.

"I hope they stick it out for me. We are going to hire a good number back in December," said Sheriff Hale.

But Massey does have a certificate.

"Now that we have the certificate, I am going to put out resumes to different departments and also wait for Jefferson County to see what happens," he said.

And as Massey looked ahead, twenty laid off Jefferson County Deputies used that certificate to get Birmingham badges.

"My heart was pacing but I was excited," said Emery Ryan, a former Jefferson County deputy and new Birmingham police officer.

And he wasn't the only one.

"I'm really excited about their careers starting here and we are really glad they choose us," said Chief A.C. Roper of the Birmingham Police Department.

It's not the path most of these former deputies wanted, but they're happy to be back in a uniform.

"Hopefully I go out, serve the public and get some criminals off the street," said Ryan.

Sheriff Hale says some officers will be retiring in December and six will be going to Iraq (web | news) . He's hoping to fill those spots with some graduates.

The sheriff also says he's trying to get the county to give him money from the J.P. Morgan Chase settlement.

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