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Sheriff reports jail population, staffing gaps and progress on countywide communications
Summary
Fremont County sheriff updated commissioners on jail population and staffing levels, dispatch staffing, and progress on a multi‑phase county communications upgrade including base stations and repeaters.
The Fremont County sheriff reported recent detention and patrol statistics, staffing vacancies and progress on a countywide radio and repeater upgrade during the county commission meeting.
Inmates and bookings: The sheriff said the detention center had roughly 110 men and 41 women in custody at a recent count and gave booking totals for the prior 55 days (484 total bookings). The sheriff also provided a breakdown of arrests by originating agency for that period and described current counts for sentenced and pre‑adjudicated inmates.
Staffing and budget lines: The sheriff reported five deputy sheriff vacancies with five candidates in background checks and one civilian controller opening with one candidate in background. He said detention overtime and certain line items were high relative to lapse and noted remaining balances in prisoner board and medical services lines. Fuel and vehicle budgets were also discussed.
Communications and dispatch: The sheriff updated commissioners that the county’s communications upgrade had completed phases 1 and 2 and was nearing completion of phase 3, with base stations installed and radio installs proceeding. The sheriff said the Black Mountain repeater is a BIA‑operated site undergoing repairs, and paging for fire and EMS is currently functioning from that tower. Repairs at Windy Ridge in the Du Bois area were expected to complete by May 29, the sheriff said.
Rumor control and coordination: The sheriff told the board he had investigated rumors that Lander and other agencies were leaving county dispatch for a municipal dispatch center and that the Lander Police Chief confirmed the rumor was unfounded.
Why it matters: Jail population, staffing and dispatch capacity affect public safety and county budget planning; the communications upgrades bear on emergency response reliability.
The sheriff answered commissioners’ questions about siren activation (the county dispatch system activates municipal sirens under local fire department direction) and staffing trajectories; no formal action was required on the update.
