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Weber County sheriff briefs West Haven on officer shortfalls, requests more school resource officers
Summary
Lt. Terance Lavely told the West Haven City Council that recent legislation now requires a deputy at each school all day and that the sheriff's office will request two additional school resource positions and a chief of security; councilmembers discussed pay, hiring laterals and drafting a letter to county commissioners.
Lt. Terance Lavely and Chief Gard of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office told the West Haven City Council on Aug. 21 that county law enforcement is facing staffing shortages exacerbated by recent legislative changes.
"They changed the legislation to require a deputy at each school all day," Lt. Lavely said, and the office will ask the Weber County Commission for two more school resource positions and a chief of security to fulfill that mandate. He described staff reassignments used to cover school requirements but said long-term fixes will be needed.
Councilmembers pressed for details about recruitment and retention. Councilmember Nina Morse asked whether the sheriff’s office is recruiting laterals from other agencies; Lavely said pay limits hamper hiring. Lavely added the county has issued a request for proposal for a wage study that will take effect in fiscal year 2026.
Chief Gard confirmed enforcement funding currently comes from the county and eight contract cities. Councilmember Kim Dixon asked whether unused budgeted funds might be applied to pay incentives; Chief Gard said the office would like to use such funds to retain deputies.
Several councilmembers asked whether West Haven could help the sheriff’s office now; Shawn Warnke suggested the question could be addressed at contract renewal, and Councilmember Morse asked whether the council could draft a letter to the Weber County Commissioners. Mayor Rob Vanderwood said the council could do so.
The presentation clarified the county’s staffing gap, the pending wage-study timeline, and potential next steps the city could take to support its contract law enforcement provider.
