|
Updated: 7:11 PM Mar 31, 2010
NEW INFO: Additional Layoffs at Jackson County, Ohio, Sheriff's Department
As of midnight Wednesday, budget cuts are forcing one local sheriff’s department to lay off four deputies.
Posted: 7:11 PM Mar 31, 2010Reporter: Carrie Cline Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com |
|
10 Comments 
UPDATE from Wednesday 3/31
JACKSON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- They pledge to serve and protect.
Despite that pledge, one local sheriff's department can no longer promise they'll be there when you need them.
Jackson County, Ohio, is facing severe budget cuts, and deputies are under fire. But the major cuts could be reversed with the approval of a tax increase.
Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy Keith Copas is answering the call of duty.
"We're actually going where someone just walked in and caught someone in his house," Copas said.
This homeowner is lucky -- Copas arrives to help. But after midnight that's all going to change by early Thursday morning.
The Jackson County Department started the year with 13 deputies. In January, four were laid of -- two of them dispatchers. At midnight Wednesday, another four will be cut -- leaving only five. Even more cuts could come in July.
The night shift will have no road deputies, and the day shift will have one road deputy. The day shift, which has the bulk of papers to serve, will be doing that.
"(It's the) first time I've been laid off from anywhere," Deputy John Sturgill said.
He has been working full-time since he was 12. He's worked for the sheriff's department full-time for 16 years.
"I got my daughters through school, but still got wife at home and worry about expenses," he said. "We've been dedicated to (the) county for all of these years. I thought law enforcement was job security, but apparently I was wrong."
That job security changed with budget cuts. Eleven years ago, the department operated with nearly $1 million. Ten years later, it was down almost $200,000 and today is operating with less than half the amount the amount it had back in 1999.
That's why the county is asking for a tax increase.
"Currently, the commissioners have sanctioned a 2.5 percent increase in the property taxes that would generate $1 million solely for the sheriff's department that would allow us to bring everyone back, maintenance and equipment," Chief Deputy Jim Ephlin said.
Copas said, "I’ve gone four years without a raise. We’ve continued our contract twice trying to do our part. People living in the county will have to figure out their priorities."
Jackson County voters will vote on the tax increase during the general election in May.
Ephlin says the increase for someone with a home valued at $150,000 will amount to $118 more to provide solid law enforcement to the county's nearly 35,000 residents.
ORIGINAL STORY
JACKSON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- As of midnight Wednesday, budget cuts are forcing one local sheriff’s department to lay off four deputies.
Jackson County, Ohio Sheriff John Shasteen tells WSAZ.com that the layoffs will leave the department with just five deputies and two dispatchers.
Shasteen says that earlier this year he had to lay off two deputies and two dispatchers.
The Sheriff says the cuts will definitely affect patrols in the county.
He cited an example earlier in the week, when a woman was stabbed to death and her boyfriend wounded in the attack.
Sheriff Shasteen says they were lucky that an Oak Hill Police Officer was able to get to the crime scene quickly; otherwise the murder suspect might not have been caught.
At the time, a deputy was filling in as dispatcher, so fewer deputies were available to respond.
We'll have much more on this tonight at on your 5:30 Edition.
Latest Comments
Jason I used to work in law enforcement in the Village of Oak Hill and I've had the pleasure of working with the Jackson County deputies such as Deputy Copas as well as other deputies. I can say with very much certainty that the people of Jackson county are much safer and better off with these deputies out there on the raod. These are some of the best people and good police officers out there. I live in Scioto county so I can't vote on this issue but I strongly urge the Jackson county people to vote YES on the property tax increase. These deputies are excellent people as well as law enforcement professionals. Keep these guys out there and keep up the good work guys.
Jackson County cant afford to lose any of our sheriff deputies. There is already so much crime and to take our officers off the streets would be ridiculous. And Erik if you dont know this to be fact don't say it. You stated as you hear it. And in Jackson County you "HEAR" a lot that isn't true.
To common sense you're right, if don't want to pay for protection don't come crying to to local law enforcement if you voted no on the tax levy. To anonymous get your facts right Ohio doesn't have a state police, we have a highway patrol. The highway patrol does NOT have any jurisdiction on private property.
|
|
|
Popular Searches Powered by Local.com |
- UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
- Three Aging W.Va. Power Plants Closing
- IRS Warns to Expect Some Refund Delays
- NASCAR Racer Visits Charleston
- UPDATE: Man Charged in Violent Armed Robbery at Huntington Bar
- St. Albans Man Arrested in Large Drug Bust
- Business Destroyed by Fire in Logan County
- Convicted Sex Offender Wanted
- Metheny Still Missing
- Residents Hopeful Dunbar Police Will Move to New Neighborhood
- UPDATE: Vigil for Missing 3-Year-Old Girl
430 Comments - UPDATE: New Chief Deputy in Mason County Releases Department Mission Statement
148 Comments - UPDATE: Mother Awaiting Sentence Faces More Trouble
61 Comments - UPDATE: Some Questions Remain Unanswered in Deadly CO Leak
48 Comments - UPDATE: Man Accused of Victimizing Elderly Found Guilty of Kidnapping; Victim Dies
40 Comments - UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
24 Comments
- Same-sex marriage OK'd in Washington
- 10 states freed from 'No Child Left Behind'
- Embattled LA school reopens
- Mississippi pardons to be challenged at court hearing
- Authorites probe 911 response to Josh Powell's home
- Hotel workers in New York to get panic button
- Resolution to N. Dakota school nickname dispute still seems far off
- Official: Suspect in 'South Park' threats to plead guilty
- The deadly path to legal status
- Birth control by vending machine
- Deep freeze puts strain on Ukrainian EMS
- Spy agency called before Pakistani high court
- Court suspends Spain's most famous judge
- Deposed president faces arrest in the Maldives
- Greek leaders ready to back austerity deal
- More than 700 suffer food poisoning after Mexico rally
- Officials: Drone strike kills 4 in Pakistan
- Asylum or 'medical leave' for Chinese crime buster?
- UK: 'No negotiations' on Falklands
- Who is Anonymous?
- Band camp, other clubs suspended
- Champion remembered at event
- More members accused of hazing
- Sandusky urged to stay inside
- Words matter in Penn State case
- Out-of-county jury for Sandusky?
- 4th accuser drops abuse allegations
- Accuser pleads guilty to child sex
- Attorney: Victims to sue university
- Miss. high court considers pardons
- Live Blog: Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach Pro-AM
- Pebble Beach Pro-Am Round 1 scores
- Don Banks: Biggest offseason questions in the NFL
- Seth Davis: Eustachy's second chance could lead Southern Miss to NCAAs
- Rivers, Duke sink Tar Heels at buzzer
- Leafs, Wings set for '13 Winter Classic
- Report: Manning still unable to make most throws
- Syracuse earns OT win vs. Hoyas
- Memphis joining Big East in 2013
- Lin dazzles again as Knicks win
 |
SOMC
Very good things are happening here. Click here to learn more |
 |
Click here for school closings and delays |
 |
Watch the Lottery Live Monday - Saturday @ 6:59pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. Need to check your numbers? Click here. |
 |
Watch the Ohio Lottery Drawings weeknights @ 7:29pm and Cash Explosion Saturday @ 7:30pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. |
 |
Click here to donate and help WSAZ help children at risk in our region. Thank you. |
 |
Click here to see how our partners are making Moms and women's lives easier. |
