The sheriff (identified in the hearing as the county’s sheriff) reviewed the department’s 2026 budget packet and highlighted a multi‑year Leadership Academy being offered internally and an ongoing staffing request for patrol positions.

The sheriff said the department began a roughly 2.5‑year leadership program organized with an outside consultant and that the training is intended to build succession planning and consistent leadership across divisions. “When we complete this program, the goal is that when opportunity presents itself and we have deputies that are gonna be promoted, they have a base understanding of leadership and what that means,” the sheriff said.

On staffing, the sheriff asked the commission to consider four additional patrol positions, noting he would raise the request annually until it is funded. He provided supporting statistics and explained the request as a long‑term need rather than a one‑time ask. Commissioners and staff did not take an immediate vote; the request will be part of the budget work sessions.

The sheriff detailed several operating pressures that affect staffing and costs: vehicle maintenance and replacement cycles, increasing costs for parts and tires, higher deductibles for deer strikes under insurance, and the need to replace aging office desktops (detention side upgrades occurred this year). The office is planning vehicle rotations and noted uncertainty in vehicle pricing amid tariffs and supply issues.

Other operational items discussed included continued training costs for new instructor certifications (defensive tactics, bias training and other mandatory classes) and shared county training invitations. The sheriff said much of the department’s training is done in‑house but certification courses require travel and per‑person costs that drive increases.

Ending: The commission scheduled further budget review during the June 3 work session; the sheriff’s staffing request and training supplements will be considered alongside other departmental asks.