Sheriff gets funding for one investigator; court debates jail staffing and inmate costs

Sheriff Joseph Godbaker asked the Jim Wells County Commissioners Court on Sept. 5 for two additional deputy positions to serve as investigators on a violent‑crimes and fugitive task force; the court approved funding for a single investigator and did not approve a second after discussion of budget constraints and restricted grant money.

The request aimed to create a focused investigative unit to respond to murders, drive‑by shootings and gang activity, Godbaker told the court. He said the two positions would be dedicated to criminal investigations and to working with the Alice Police Department, the Texas Rangers, constables and other local agencies "to prevent these murders and these drive by shootings that we've had a lot of this year." The sheriff said roughly 800 open cases remain in county CID and argued the task force would improve response and intelligence.

The sheriff told the court he had budgeted salaries, and that vehicles and equipment for the extra investigators would be paid from the department's asset‑forfeiture fund. He also warned that several federal and state overtime grants the department receives carry strict use restrictions. "All of those monies that we get, none of…