[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6534987,"mediaKeyId","3445418-23bcdcbe68859f69542e3f460fc05bac","parentId",3445418,"title","Durham County sheriff requests more deputies, vehicles and detention investments amid staffing shortages","audioSeconds",4442,"startMs",978000,"endMs",5420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445418-23bcdcbe68859f69542e3f460fc05bac&start=978&end=5420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445418-23bcdcbe68859f69542e3f460fc05bac/thumbnail_978000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6534987/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-County-sheriff-requests-more-deputies-vehicles-and-detention-investments-amid-staffing-shortages","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534987-0932d68a6feced5a2d3d039f0e9e1227/orig.mp4?Expires=1770418413&Signature=ondgDlOoRU2MU5ngv8W65IBaH1fbIuh08HztO29I0SCY31jYGwLzSaIcgtnZkl8CFTZsyh~VTp-RuwilXYX2QOeW2Ua~YAoyWnxNgJt2cSX-9zmFdwlAE2x5LxBPD5QaAMU2Qx2rb90Hi0gNHH3thpGTkjRxvKwfJ0bB1Oe88gG51TlMj8kV~8K~-TOZ3DeZe5d6GQJrI7Cc0lRNA7YleD9qPZB1A0cJ6oHQ~8~eokwMRoX3ze1bdvM-IMB152~3PY3DdfpVXDpGfyi3X1qNH~AMnRxwdITANbHBFht7RyurqGNOgf50sAzdbFLWhpHiNuVVU0W7d4OE~-GahchDTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Durham County","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead told the Board of Commissioners on May 22 that his office is asking the county to fund more vehicles and personnel as it handles both local violent incidents and growing countywide demand.

Birkhead opened the sheriff’s presentation with a brief operational update and asked Captain Carpenter to summarize a recent homicide investigation. “We were able to locate the suspect, apprehend him without incident and get him incarcerated,” Captain Carpenter said. Birkhead also noted the sheriff’s office responded regionally to a separate involuntary commitment situation in Chatham County and described the office as “a regional provider” that other jurisdictions call when incidents escalate.

The sheriff then outlined budget priorities that he said are intended to address safety and service gaps. Top requests included replacement patrol vehicles (the presentation listed about 34 SUVs and other vehicle types), a $343,200 increase in maintenance and repair funding, funding to outfit detention officers with stab‑resistant vests, upgrades to kitchen facilities at the detention center, and investments in investigative and IT tools including SailBright and BeyondTrust. He asked for five new deputy positions dedicated to Research Triangle Park (RTP) now, describing a five‑year plan that would total 25 deputies for RTP to match projected residential and daytime population growth.

Why it matters: Commissioners framed the discussion as part of the county’s broader budget decisions. The sheriff emphasized operational risk at the detention center — including weapons recovered inside the facility — and said staffing and equipment shortfalls affect officer safety and service delivery.

Key details and supporting information

Fleet and vehicle replacement: Preston Edwards described vehicle‑replacement criteria the sheriff’s office follows under county policy, citing age and mileage. He said the sheriff’s fleet totals about 338 vehicles and that roughly 62 vehicles meet the age‑based replacement criterion; about 79 meet an immediate replacement threshold when both age and mileage are considered. Commissioners and staff discussed the shift from large sedans to midsize SUVs (EcoBoost), factory recalls affecting multiple makes, and the upfit cost needed to equip vehicles for patrol use. The presentation named tariffs as a potential source of price increases and estimated last‑year base vehicle cost of about $46,000 before upfits.

Detention center staffing and services: Birkhead said the jail has 224 allocated positions and currently about 89 vacancies in the detention division. He and detention leaders said vacancies have forced mandatory overtime, single‑officer pod assignments at times, and reliance on deputies dual‑certified to work in detention. Major and captain‑level staff described recruitment efforts and academy graduations but said applicant numbers and qualified candidates remain a challenge. The sheriff said 100% of people entering the facility receive a mental‑health screening and estimated the share of residents with mental‑illness diagnoses is high; he described ongoing delivery of programs including MAT, STAR and GED classes but said program staffing depends on available officers.

Food service and kitchen needs: Birkhead said the detention kitchen is in disrepair and identified a capital improvement project in planning. County attorney Lovelace explained that state law changes a few years ago allow sheriffs to contract directly with food‑service providers; the sheriff said security concerns limit options for off‑site prepared meals and that vendors must be vetted for facility access.

Technology, training and safety equipment: The sheriff listed SailBright and BeyondTrust as investigatory/IT tools of interest. He also requested replacement uniforms, upfits, and protective equipment for detention staff, including stab‑resistant vests; commissioners noted an upcoming agenda item to contract for vests.

RTP coverage and staffing model: Birkhead asked for five deputies specifically to create a new RTP zone this year, funded via position realignment as he described it (he said the request would also improve countywide service). He summarized an anticipated growth pattern in RTP and said the five positions are part of a 25‑deputy plan over five years to keep pace with population and employment growth in the RTP hub.

Commissioner questions and follow‑ups: Commissioners pressed for clarity on vehicle counts, replacement schedules, recall impacts and the pace of deputy hires. The sheriff’s team committed to follow up with itemized vehicle inventories, more detail on remounting/ambulance-style chassis practice (discussed later in EMS context), and detaining staffing and program data (average lengths of stay, program participation and mental‑health screening results) for board review. Sheriff staff also invited commissioners to tour the jail and observe operations.

Ending note: The sheriff framed most line‑item asks as budget requests rather than finalized decisions; commissioners asked for additional data — for example vehicle inventories, upfit cost breakdowns and precise RTP partner commitments — before final budget actions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Durham BOCC Budget Work Session May 22th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead told commissioners May 22 that his office needs more vehicles and personnel to keep pace with county growth and detention safety needs, and he presented specific budget requests including vehicle replacements, a maintenance increase and five deputies designated for Research Triangle Park.","taxTitle","Durham County, North Carolina","taxId",5765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534979,"Durham County Youth Home opens two pods, earns LEED Platinum certification",113,7463000,7576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445418-23bcdcbe68859f69542e3f460fc05bac&start=7463&end=7576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445418-23bcdcbe68859f69542e3f460fc05bac/thumbnail_7463000.jpg","/articles/6534979/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-County-Youth-Home-opens-two-pods-earns-LEED-Platinum-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534979-d40226ecdb4173371da9606852e27020/orig.mp4?Expires=1770418412&Signature=AhtJukLkgnViW15A2wMjZzi9Lg8rICVEmeDosHxIfn5CyrVjUtuhsosxSB~EDco5TGb9j-HbIpgp8RZzGsP70NEuPvqDG3VbTvUygd2Aq6h9jbb64csgYwFM-NjdtefEa1krbbXS12gM0lXsZNMQo3UwlPurh8sYWIXsy1O10Oov-itCi0lAJEOAeIhbJovl9EbZyw~RnURXK4w5XGIzxHj6ONdzK5G6LIxDRQdo0MipwlF92MeYRPIebdj2zcFeBYJYf~3qa7lb6T7zdPXju0ZlqWxiKcmHhpamXKrX-rZWWT7UZj7kyA2l9SjihxL4LUkjE5beQX6QuLjvSC6G2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Angela Nunn, director of the Durham County Youth Home, reported May 22 that the new facility has two pods open, providing 24 beds in service to the county.

Nunn said the facility transitioned 14 residents into the new building in 2024 and has gradually increased capacity to 24 as staff were hired and trained. She also announced that the facility received LEED Platinum certification in April, the highest level of the LEED rating system, and summarized the sustainability criteria that supported the award.

Why it matters: The youth home’s operational expansion and high‑level energy and sustainability certification are material to county juvenile services capacity and capital stewardship.

Key details

Capacity and operations: Two pods are open (24 beds); two additional pods remain to open later. The director said staff hiring supported the phased increase in residents.

Sustainability: The youth home earned LEED Platinum for performance across energy, water, indoor environmental quality and other sustainability measures.

Next steps: County staff offered to coordinate site visits for commissioners to view operations and programming in person.

Ending note: The report was provided as an informational update during the county’s budget work session; no formal action was recorded.","Director Angela Nunn told commissioners May 22 that the county youth home has opened two pods with 24 beds in service, moved 14 residents into the facility last year and obtained LEED Platinum certification.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534983,"Durham County EMS cites rising call volume, revenue gap from Medicaid changes and asks for ambulances and staff",1900,5476000,7376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445418-23bcdcbe68859f69542e3f460fc05bac&start=5476&end=7376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445418-23bcdcbe68859f69542e3f460fc05bac/thumbnail_5476000.jpg","/articles/6534983/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-County-EMS-cites-rising-call-volume-revenue-gap-from-Medicaid-changes-and-asks-for-ambulances-and-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534983-3c8785cbc60505857d3bf3a8261be3ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770418412&Signature=nMUGsHbsdUvXunncJz0LFdbLzyOpmuhlizHw5YCLwrJEYEdaVVe3GMwKfoQNS6L8XqgA4lTz8G3PRczBkBoLaa8sdJCiJbj0nRke4n1mlaStxLPNZKL2XnetzQM4WDtSNOASpbvHE7hOYmy8GDZYR28odGHAH0Y2Q5vQ6cLSLXTc0Szhn2q1Qo3EqyXIVMFAvGI6C4GgLCbQtgygH2vAucLf9uN1J2nI4oIb~2~750Y9d-2bTAuq~PAvSvx6HmPIgK5sIHmuTRn7zv5r6-6bkg4C~BaUUp-xUGCNFegOykldJWOv32J09whB0P280oZ~LQIYn8O6NJobrpeAxcXv5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mark Lockhart, director of Durham County’s Office of Emergency Services, told the Board of Commissioners on May 22 that EMS call volume and operating costs have grown steadily and that a state Medicaid billing change has reduced near‑term revenue.

Lockhart said the county’s EMS fleet modernization is underway — the county received five new Braun ambulances in January, with more units and SUVs on order — but production delays mean new ambulances still have 30‑ to 36‑month delivery windows. “We expect production right now to be still between 30 and 36 months, from the date of order,” Lockhart said, noting additional units are scheduled over the next three fiscal years.

Tracy DeShazo, senior administrative officer, explained how North Carolina’s Medicaid transformation and the introduction of “tailored plans” affected EMS billing. DeShazo told commissioners the county has roughly $2.3 million in EMS claims in a pipeline awaiting processing by the tailored‑plan administrator; she said those funds could appear as revenue in FY26 once claims are processed.

Why it matters: The combination of sustained annual call‑volume growth (Lockhart cited a 2–3% increase annually, 16% since FY21 and 24.7% since FY18), long ambulance lead times and a current revenue shortfall has led the office to request additional staff and vehicles to maintain response capacity and patient outcomes.

Key details

Staffing and vehicle requests: Lockhart said the FY26 request includes 12 clinical positions (six EMTs and six paramedics), five replacement ambulances (with an already long delivery lead time) and several SUVs. He said the county will need about 40 ambulances over time to support proper rotation and reserves; with current orders, 33 of 37 ambulances will be replaced by FY29 if recommended replacements are approved.

Call volume and response times: Lockhart provided multi‑year data showing emergent and total call volumes increasing year over year. He said average response times have been moving toward 10 minutes and noted industry focus is increasingly on patient outcomes rather than raw response time, though response time remains critical for conditions such as cardiac arrest and stroke. Emergent average response times have hovered near eight minutes, while 90th percentile response times have been closer to 13–16 minutes in recent years.

Revenue and billing: DeShazo described the Medicaid transformation’s tailored plans and said Durham EMS has roughly 2,183 tailored‑plan billable trips in the current year, rising to a projected 2,600 in FY26. She said the county has roughly $2.3 million in claims in the pipeline awaiting processing by the tailored‑plan administrator, Alliance, which she described as the principal reason for a FY25 revenue shortfall.

Operational pressures and programs: Lockhart also outlined broader emergency‑management work (including radios and interoperability upgrades), noted rising fleet costs and said EMS is holding low‑priority calls at times — about 4–5% weekly — while units are staged or unavailable. He described community paramedicine and a post‑overdose response team as programs that have improved care access; staff said the community paramedicine pilots have increased field staff interest and patient contacts.

Commissioner follow‑up items: Commissioners asked about recruiting challenges (noting Wake County’s hiring pace and pay competitiveness), the need to map development and service impact for planning, the timeline and inventory for vehicles, and whether HEART diversion of behavioral‑health calls has reduced EMS load. Lockhart and staff agreed to provide additional vehicle inventory and timeline data, and to work with planning staff on service‑impact mapping.

Ending note: Lockhart framed the requests as necessary to stabilize response capacity and to prepare for projected growth; commissioners asked staff to return with cost, staffing and vehicle delivery schedules to inform the budget process.

","Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Lockhart told commissioners May 22 that EMS call volume has risen 24.7% since FY2018 and that a Medicaid program change has left about $2.3 million in claims pending. The office requested 12 clinical positions and five ambulances, and said radios and fleet deliveries face long lead times.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Durham County sheriff requests more deputies, vehicles and detention investments amid staffing shortages

Durham County Youth Home opens two pods, earns LEED Platinum certification

Durham County EMS cites rising call volume, revenue gap from Medicaid changes and asks for ambulances and staff