OLIVIA — The Renville County Board of Commissioners will be debating whether to approve two new positions for patrol deputies at the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Scott Hable acknowledged that increasing the staff level by two represents a “tremendous ask,” since funding for them is not part of the coming year’s budget.
But he told the commissioners at their meeting on March 15 that the department continues to struggle to fill its schedule in the patrol division. He would like to meet the need for officers while there is possibility of doing so.
The Sheriff’s Office received interest from potential candidates during recent job fairs held for community college students who will graduate from law enforcement programs this spring and summer.
There are an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 officer vacancies in law enforcement agencies in the state right now, Hable reported.
The Sheriff’s Office currently lists eight patrol deputies and two sergeants in its patrol division. The department has only two part-time officers to help fill in when officers take vacation or other time off, and it’s not meeting the needs.
For the vast majority of situations, the office has to shift schedules and require officers to work overtime when a deputy needs time off, according to Hable. The sheriff and chief deputy also fill in as schedules are adjusted.
The Sheriff's Office has taken on added responsibilities in recent years. It is contracted to provide patrol services for a total of 140 hours each week to...
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