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Wicomico sheriff asks council for five courtroom deputies and social-media specialist in FY2026 budget
Summary
Sheriff Mike Lewis told the Wicomico County Council his office needs five additional sworn deputies to staff court security and one social-media specialist to improve public communications; budget requests also include computer equipment, vests and increases in operational costs.
Sheriff Mike Lewis told the Wicomico County Council on May 1 that the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office is requesting five additional sworn deputy positions to meet Maryland circuit court staffing expectations and one social-media specialist to improve public safety communications.
Lewis said the court request is driven by a statewide reassessment of courtroom security following the 2023 slaying of a Maryland circuit court judge and by local overtime the office has been paying to cover courtroom details. “We are in need of five additional deputies to fill the positions in our courthouse,” Sheriff Mike Lewis said. He added the office has been using commanders and overtime to meet courtroom needs and that the new positions would allow some deputies to return from school resource officer assignments to the roads.
Deputy Finance Director Charles Schmeickel summarized the sheriff’s submitted budget: most sworn officers are covered by contract, the county is proposing a 5% package for command staff and a 5% pool for civilians to be distributed by departments, and notable operating increases include software, janitorial costs and ammunition. Schmeickel said Information Technology identified about $99,000 in one‑time computer equipment needs, and the sheriff’s office listed a capital request for certified vests.
Lewis also proposed a social-media specialist to ensure timely alerts across platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat for incidents such as active‑shooter warnings, school safety incidents and road closures. “So that those are the two main things that you’re gonna see additions for the sheriff’s office, the five new sheriff’s office sworn deputy positions, and one social media specialist,” he said.
Council members asked about school resource officers (SROs). Lewis said SRO positions were being filled but that the department has at times reassigned officers from the road into schools and noted that properly certified SROs require special training. “When we take somebody off the road ... they’re not specially trained school resource deputies, so we do need those five positions for that reason,” Lewis said.
On other budget lines, the sheriff’s office indicated it has not received any cannabis‑related funding and that law enforcement is not eligible for the cannabis funds referenced by some council members. The presentation also noted increased janitorial, electricity and natural‑gas costs tied in part to occupying the new public‑safety complex and a recurring lease program for patrol vehicles; the department said maintenance costs have risen and the higher cost of certain repairs is driving expenses.
No formal vote or ordinance occurred during the work session; council members and staff discussed the request and asked follow‑up questions.
The council will consider the sheriff’s requests as part of its broader FY2026 budget deliberations and final appropriation process.
