Two deputies will be assigned to an “on-call” status during the early morning hours and will respond to life threatening incidents.
(CORVALLIS, Ore. ) - Effective April 1st, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office will begin a new patrol schedule that will leave rural Benton County without early morning patrol coverage.
With the loss of federal county payments and voter approved tax limitations, the Sheriff’s Office will not have resources or personnel to provide twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week patrol coverage.
From 3:00 AM until 7:00 AM, the Sheriff’s Office will not have deputies on patrol.
However, two deputies will be assigned to an “on-call” status during the early morning hours and will respond to life threatening incidents.
During the 2007-09 biennium budget preparation, Sheriff Diana Simpson made the decision to impose a hiring freeze.
“In order to be fiscally responsible, I chose not to go through the expense of hiring new deputies, training them, equipping them and then having to lay them off July 1st,” said Simpson.
The new biennium budget provides for 16 patrol deputies including three sergeants; not enough staff for 24/7 coverage, but an ample number for two ten-hour daily shifts.
The Benton County Budget Committee begins hearings on the 2007-09 biennium budget April 2nd.
The average cost to train and outfit a new deputy is approximately $6,000 plus their salary.
Even if more patrol deputies are added today, deputies go through eight to ten months of rigorous training and certification before they are available for solo patrol.
“Despite the reduced coverage, the Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide professional, accountable and responsive services within our limited resources,” said Sheriff Simpson.
Benton County to be Without Early Morning Sheriff Patrols Beginning SundaySalem-News.com