Sheriff Makes Additional Reductions

Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe announced additional reductions in patrol hours from 20 hours a day to 10 hours a day due to budget and staffing reductions. "My overtime budget is less than 6% for the remainder of this budget cycle which ends in June, and I have received notification from another deputy who has accepted a conditional job offer, making this the fourth deputy to leave in the last two months," stated Sheriff Bob Wolfe. 

The Sheriff's Office has not had 24 hour a day coverage since March of 2013. In November of 2013, a county public safety levy to restore patrol coverage, enhance staffing of the district attorney, juvenile, and community corrections failed. Sheriff Bob Wolfe stated, "Failure of the public safety levy set into motion the departure of employees from my agency who are seeking employment with other agencies who have stable financial outlooks." 

Due to additional departure of employees from the Sheriff's Office, beginning March 29, 2014, the patrol division will be reduced to 10 hours of patrol a day, seven days a week. Sheriff Bob Wolfe stated, "This is extremely difficult and makes the third time since late February I have had to make shift adjustments. I have to make cuts so as to not overspend my budget." The 10 hours of patrol each day will reduce overtime cost through the redirection of scheduling, and allow more coverage within the 10 hours each day than what we are currently doing with two 10 hours shifts. 

The Polk County Budget Committee meets next week to work on the 2014-2015 budget which, begins on July 1, 2014. Sheriff Bob Wolfe stated, "This will be another tough budget session with no bright outlook for next year. I know additional cuts will happen, and this is why employees are still out looking for other work."