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Sheriff says staffing crisis requires pay increases; seeks traffic counter, simulator and HVAC replacements
Summary
Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez told commissioners the office faces recruitment and retention challenges and asked the board to consider a roughly 15% increase in starting pay for sworn deputies; he also requested capital funding for a portable traffic counter (~$5,000), a training simulator (~$16,000) and rooftop HVAC replacements (~$31,000).
Sheriff Levi Dominguez told the commission the sheriff's office is operating with persistent vacancies in both patrol and detention and is struggling to recruit candidates at current starting pay levels. "We're in a staffing crisis," he said, noting that comparable regional agencies are offering starting salaries $12,000–$14,000 higher and some pay differentials for nights and weekends.
To address operations and training, the sheriff presented several capital requests: one portable traffic/counting device (a non‑camera speed/count unit, under $5,000), a use‑of‑force and firearms training simulator (about $16,000), and rooftop HVAC replacements and relocation work estimated at roughly $31,000. Commissioners approved the sheriff's non‑salary budget items for now and scheduled cap‑tax capital discussions for the next meeting.
