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Sheriff warns of staffing shortfalls; seeks deputies and animal-control hires
Summary
Cowlitz County sheriff's office told commissioners it is down several deputies and needs to hire an animal control officer and records support staff; an experienced lateral could be in the field in 2–3 months, while academy recruits may take until April or longer to finish training.
The sheriff's office told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners it has multiple vacancies and strained capacity, and officials asked permission to proceed with hiring to restore coverage.
Jessica Warren of human resources relayed the sheriff's request to fill an animal-control officer role after a resignation. The sheriff said the office currently maintains two full-time animal-control positions that cover 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, relying on a part-time employee only for occasional coverage; he said the position is posted but must clear civil-service requirements and could be operational in as little as a week if an experienced candidate is hired, or up to a month with on-the-job training. "If somebody comes in with experience, we could probably be a pretty quick turnaround, maybe as little as a week," the sheriff said.
The sheriff also reported a records 'support specialist' vacancy after an employee resigned following maternity leave; the role supports 24/7 law-enforcement records functions, including warrant confirmation and stolen-vehicle or weapons checks. He said the office is short-staffed across patrol as well: four deputies are on various medical leave and five are in training. On the deputy openings, he said one vacancy resulted from a retirement effective May 1 and another from a deputy relocating to New Jersey, and that three recruits currently in the academy could be operational around April 1 while an experienced lateral applicant could be ready in 2–3 months. "It takes it can take up to a year to get somebody trained and out on their own," the sheriff said, noting the county is hiring ahead to avoid service gaps.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about scheduling and equipment; the sheriff confirmed these are current budgeted positions and will not require new vehicles or gear. The personnel requests and related recruiting actions were presented for approval on the upcoming consent or motion agenda.
