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Commissioners question sheriff over overtime, off‑duty escorts and county‑vehicle reimbursements
Summary
Pulaski County commissioners pressed the sheriff on persistent overtime, officers doing escort work outside the county using county vehicles and where mileage reimbursements are posted and used in county accounting.
Commissioners questioned the sheriff about overtime levels, staffing shortages and the practice of deputies performing paid escort/transport work outside Pulaski County during their off duty hours.
Sheriff Chris (surname not provided) said staffing challenges — including a military deployment and officer injuries — had left the department short several deputies at different times, requiring schedule adjustments and some overtime. He said officers performing escort or transport work for private firms or other jurisdictions do so on their own time, and the contracting companies reimburse the county for vehicle use and mileage. The sheriff said the county had received about $14,000 in such reimbursements but that the funds first go to county general refund/reimbursement accounting rather than directly into a vehicle repair/replacement fund.
Commissioners expressed concern about wear and tear on county vehicles used outside the county and asked whether reimbursements could be earmarked to the sheriff’s vehicle maintenance or replacement fund. County accounting staff said the reimbursement receipts are posted as refunds and reimbursements, and the sheriff may request a transfer to move those funds into vehicle repair/replacement or other appropriate accounts; such transfers would be processed either at the time of request or during the budget cycle and require the usual approvals.
Commissioners also asked about insurance and accident liability when vehicles are used for off‑duty escort work. The sheriff said contracts require reimbursement and that the county’s insurance would be the primary payor if an incident occurred; he said officers use their own comp time when doing that outside work and that the practice is common among other counties. One commissioner asked whether the sheriff’s department could better use overtime budget or part‑time hires to cover local needs instead of allowing off‑duty outside work; the sheriff said lower part‑time pay rates made it difficult to recruit part‑time officers and that officers take outside detail work to supplement pay.
County staff said funds received for reimbursements can be moved into vehicle maintenance/replacement with a formal transfer request; commissioners directed staff to track the receipts and consider earmarking such funds for vehicle‑related expenses.
No formal disciplinary or policy action was taken at the meeting.
