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Sheriff says county is near full staffing in some units but short in corrections; three patrol vehicles slated for replacement
Summary
The Gibson County Sheriff reported most deputy positions are filled but corrections and communications remain below budgeted levels; he told commissioners three patrol units will be replaced this year and cited supply delays with an upfitter.
The Sheriff reported to the Gibson County Commission that most deputy slots are filled but several public-safety units remain below budgeted staffing levels.
"We have 20 budgeted deputy positions; 19 of those are filled," the Sheriff said, and added that corrections has 21 budgeted positions with 17 filled. He said community corrections is fully staffed and the detention center population fell from 109 in January to 102 in February, with 25 people in work release.
A commissioner asked whether the department planned patrol-unit purchases. The Sheriff said three vehicles are scheduled to be replaced this year but deliveries have been slow because the 2025 vehicles are only now being built. He described a "communication snafu" with the current upfitter and said the county is looking for a new upfitter.
The Sheriff also described hiring steps underway: a recent round of written and physical testing produced eight applicants, five passed the physical assessment, and those candidates are now in background checks; he expected a new hire within a month. Commissioners asked follow-up questions about patrol staffing and vehicle timing but took no separate action beyond noting the report.
The Sheriff’s staffing and procurement update leaves two near-term items for the commission to monitor: completion of background checks for new deputies and resolution of vehicle upfitter issues to ensure timely delivery of the three replacement patrol units.
