Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said a staff shortage “emergency” is affecting his “ability to provide adequate law enforcement for the county”.
Lyons said as of April 20 there are eight vacant law enforcement positions and nine vacancies in the detention division.
Lyon identified prevalent concerns as public safety, officer safety, delayed response time, and officer visibility saying the sheriff’s office is “reaching a crisis level”.
Lyon said shifts are running two to three deputies short. He said he’s lost 16 deputies and 49 jailers since January 2021 and blames the “public safety crisis” on low salaries. Lyons listed a first-year deputy salary as $37,679 and listed salaries for neighboring counties’ law enforcement.
- Livingston Police Department $43,660.00
- Walker County Sheriff’s Office $55,160.00
- Onalaska Police Department $39,600.00
- Diboll Police Department $48,500.00
- San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office $43,672.00
- Corrigan Police Department $37,440.00
- Liberty County Sheriff’s Office $53,300.00
- Tyler County Sheriff’s Office $40,482.00
- Angelina County Sheriff’s Office $45,550.00
- Trinity County Sheriff’s Office $35,000.00
Polk County Judge Murphy agreed raises were needed in the county, according to Lyons.
Lyons said “Judge Murphy reminded me of the revenue cap placed on Texas counties by our state legislators from 8 percent to 3.5 percent. I was informed this 3.5 percent cap handicaps counties in their attempts to maintain raises for their employees.”
https://www.kltv.com/2022/04/28/polk-county-sheriff-says-staffing-shortage-reaching-crisis-level/