Crook County sheriff warns of staffing shortfalls that could reduce patrol hours and court security

The sheriff of Crook County told the county budget committee that staffing losses and rising operating pressures have left the sheriff's office at risk of cutting patrol coverage overnight and scaling back courthouse security.

Why it matters: The sheriff framed the department’s budget request in urgent operational terms: higher jail liability from more inmates with severe mental‑health needs, rising call volumes and vehicle and technology costs, and pending labor negotiations that could raise future costs. He warned that further departures could require shutting down patrol coverage after midnight and increasing mandatory overtime.

Sheriff John Gautam told the committee his jail handled 1,258 bookings in 2024 — “about 105 a month” — and reported a sharp increase in inmates requiring mental‑health medication, from 42 in 2023 to 163 in 2024. "That gives you a bit of what we're seeing coming into the facility and what our staff is dealing with," he said, adding the jail now has a whole housing pod devoted to inmates needing intense mental‑health management. He said the jail’s medical and mental‑health programs, including a medication‑assisted treatment program for opioid dependence, are helping reduce risks.

But the sheriff also warned of growing stresses: calls for service increased 22% year‑over‑year, equipment and fuel costs are rising, and a wave of resignations and recruitment challenges is leaving patrol short-staffed. "If we lose another collision from patrol," he said, referring to an expected resignation, "we're planning to shut down one complete patrol shift" which would eliminate staffing coverage after 2 a.m. and potentially earlier depending on future departures.

The sheriff asked the committee to consider sustainable funding options for courthouse security and law enforcement. He said the department has been cautious with hiring and has delayed backfills to avoid staffing people whose positions might not be sustainable. "Until I know I have sufficient stable funding going forward, I can't hire someone today to backfill those positions knowing that I may not have a job for them a year down the road," he said.

Committee members asked about possible state or grant funding that could help new programs such as the LEADS law‑enforcement deflection program (House Bill 4002) and confirmed that some funded positions — such as the LEADS coordinator — are tied to state funding that may be uncertain. The sheriff also flagged broader statewide policy risks, such as potential new federal requirements for search‑and‑rescue volunteers and the pending litigation over a firearms permitting change that could add significant administrative work to the sheriff’s office if implemented.

Status: Committee adopted the county budget for FY2026 as proposed; members requested that staff and the sheriff develop a clearer core‑services description this summer and present funding options in an October follow‑up. The sheriff’s presentation will also be part of the forthcoming fall review of core services and funding options. No additional money was approved during this meeting beyond the transfers and one‑time supports already included in the proposed budget.

What remains unsettled: The sheriff said collective bargaining negotiations and uncertainty about long‑term revenue make precise budgeting difficult. He urged a prompt countywide discussion about the level of law‑enforcement services the community wants and how to fund them.

Quote: "The jail is a high liability area for the county," Gautam said. "We've increased technological upgrades and improved radio communications, but the reduction in staff will increase burnout due to mandatory overtime that will be required to cover shifts."