Essex sheriff outlines grant bids and warns of rising vehicle and fuel costs

Sheriff Eric updated the Board of Supervisors March 2 on patrol activity, equipment needs and grant efforts, saying the sheriff’s office is seeing substantial call volume and expects higher operating costs.

Eric distributed a package showing calls to the sheriff’s office from July 1, 2025, to the present and said the data include town calls. He told the board he and staff are pursuing two grants for equipment: a matched grant that would cover $25,000 toward a $37,080 quote for body armor and a second small local grant (about $1,500) for other equipment. “It was a $37,080,” Eric said, noting he would return to the board if the grants are awarded to request the county match.

The sheriff cautioned that vehicle maintenance and fuel costs are climbing; he estimated roughly $7,000 per month in vehicle maintenance and fuel and said some vehicle parts (including a recently replaced engine priced at about $28,000) had been covered under warranty but may not be in future replacements. He said typical fleet replacement planning assumes vehicles should be replaced at 100,000 miles, and several county vehicles are already well past that threshold.

Eric also described an increase in academy dues for training (he expects per‑officer costs to rise) and noted that part‑time court security hours are averaging 22–25 hours per week rather than the 15 hours previously budgeted, which will increase part‑time salary obligations.

The board praised the sheriff’s reporting and requested continued updates; no formal appropriation or vote occurred at this meeting.