Hamilton County communications center and sheriff report rising call volume, staffing levels

Hamilton County’s Communications Department reported a rise in call volume and the county’s law-enforcement office summarized its monthly activity at the Commissioners Court meeting on Dec. 9.

Lacy Alexander of the Communications Department told the court the center received 1,577 calls for service in November, 139 more than November 2024, and that the department has surpassed last year’s total by 386 calls year-to-date. Alexander said the department is still awaiting Loftin Equipment for generator repairs and noted that the quarterly Fire Chiefs meeting will take place on Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office provided statistics including 120 written reports, 13 arrests (11 male, 2 female), a listing of 11 felony and 8 misdemeanor charges as recorded in the report, 280 traffic stops resulting in 136 violations cited for fines and 213 warnings, four days of bailiff duty totaling 10 hours, 14 civil processes (requiring 16 attempts), a drug seizure of 0.026 ounces of marijuana, 18 inmate transports completed, and 29 open-records requests that generated $176.40 in revenue. The transcript reports the department has 12 sworn officers, two additional officers expected, two civilian employees and four sworn reserve deputies.

Some numeric details in the transcript were presented in a way that is internally inconsistent (the report lists 13 arrests but separately enumerates 11 felony and 8 misdemeanor charges). The article reports those figures as recorded in the meeting minutes and does not reconcile them; the county did not provide additional clarification in the transcript.