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Council approves two deputy prosecutor positions as caseloads surge
Summary
Allen County Prosecutor Mike McAlexander asked Council for two additional deputy prosecutor lines to handle rising trial caseloads; Council approved a salary ordinance adding the positions on a 4-0-3 vote.
Allen County Prosecutor Mike McAlexander told Council the prosecutor's office has hired 17 new attorneys in the last two years but still faces an increased trial workload and caseload pressures that prompted a request for two additional attorney positions.
"Their analysis...said we needed 71 attorneys, more than twice what we actually had," McAlexander said, describing a state study of caseloads. He also noted that murder case filings rose from about 10 per year (2010–2019 average) to about 33 per year (2020–2025 average) and that a high share of those cases proceed to trial, requiring significant staff time to review evidence.
Councilman Fries moved a salary ordinance to establish pay for two new deputy prosecutors (range stated in the meeting); Council approved the motion on a 4-0-3 voice vote. McAlexander said the office raised starting pay to attract candidates and that the county currently bears most prosecution staffing costs without state reimbursement for these deputy positions.
