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Sheriff outlines staffing needs, digital‑forensics gains and training plans in annual report
Summary
Sheriff Steve Swanson told commissioners the department is lean but expanding capabilities—highlighting increases in drug arrests, digital child‑exploitation work, rising calls for service, and requests for additional deputies, vehicles and jail staffing ahead of the move to the new Justice Center.
Sheriff Steve Swanson presented a comprehensive annual report and budget priorities for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, telling commissioners his office is operating with about 59 employees across patrol, jail, communications and investigations and that calls for service, arrests and drug-related cases have increased.
Swanson highlighted the county’s growing digital-forensics capacity (an ICAC investigator assigned to statewide task force work) and described recent successes: multiple arrests tied to cyber tips, large volumes of digital evidence processed, and the recovery of child‑victims in at least one case. He said the department acquired grant-funded equipment and described uses ranging from thermal drones for search to grant-funded forensic software funded by the state attorney general’s office.
On staffing and budget requests, Swanson asked the commission to consider additional full‑time deputies (including a dedicated traffic/enforcement resource), a correctional officer complement increase to cover the planned new courthouse control room and security, an administrative assistant and replacement vehicles for patrol and investigators. He also recommended continued investments in training (EVOC and mobile field force), updated dispatch recording/routing equipment and exploration of AI‑assisted dispatching tools.
Swanson said jail bookings and transports rose in 2025 while average inmate populations have fluctuated; he pointed to revenue and grant pressures in the 24/7 and jail budgets. The sheriff said some program adjustments (including improving how costs are allocated across jurisdictions served by dispatch and the 24/7 program) are underway to make funding more equitable.
