Commissioners direct staff to draft county vehicle-use policy after debate over off-duty deputy use

Callahan County Commissioners Court heard an extended discussion March 9 about whether the county should adopt or expand a policy limiting use of county vehicles by sheriff's deputies during off-duty employment.

The chair opened the agenda item by noting the sheriff had supplied background materials. Commissioners and staff discussed safety, fuel and equipment wear concerns, deputies using county vehicles while working off-duty details for private employers, and the jurisdictional complications when deputies work outside county boundaries. Several commissioners said they wanted the handbook's existing vehicle-use language expanded or clarified rather than creating a standalone policy; others asked staff to collect examples from other counties.

The court did not adopt a new policy at the meeting but directed staff and the handbook committee to research options and prepare recommended revisions for future consideration. Commissioners asked staff to consider whether a separate policy or an expanded handbook section would be preferable and to identify any necessary state statutory constraints; the chair noted the Texas Local Government Code authorizes counties to adopt rules on vehicle use but did not cite a specific section.

Next steps: staff will gather sample policies from other counties and return draft language to the court for review, and the handbook review committee will consider integrating any new rules into the employee handbook.