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Sheriff wins approval for some unmarked vehicles; court funds out‑of‑county housing
Summary
Sheriff Jim Skinner said unmarked vehicles reduce trauma and improve officer safety; court approved a crime‑scene vehicle and three criminal‑investigation units but rejected some remaining unmarked exceptions. Court also approved $504,000 for expected out‑of‑county inmate housing through September.
Sheriff Jim Skinner asked the court to allow several law‑enforcement vehicles to remain unmarked. He said unmarked crime‑scene and transport vehicles reduce unnecessary neighborhood attention, protect victims and improve officer safety during interstate transports. "When possible ... it brings, it doesn't bring a lot of unnecessary attention to that family," Skinner said of using unmarked crime‑scene vehicles.
The court approved continued unmarked use for unit 56034 (a crime‑scene vehicle) by a 4–1 vote and later approved three criminal‑investigation units as unmarked. A motion to approve the remaining three requested exceptions failed 2–3. Commissioners asked staff to ensure tax and payroll implications for take‑home vehicles comply with IRS rules and county policy.
On jail housing, the sheriff requested $504,000 for projected out‑of‑county inmate housing through September 2026; the court approved the request 5–0. The sheriff reported daily custody counts in the briefing (staff cited roughly 1,200 inmates earlier; the sheriff later stated 1,366 in custody with 68 out of county), a discrepancy staff noted and will reconcile in budget reports.
What happens now: the sheriff’s office will mark vehicles that did not receive exceptions, provide tax‑treatment documentation for take‑home vehicles as requested, and staff will continue to manage out‑of‑county housing costs with the budget office.
