The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has always operated understaffed, but through the dedicated work of the administrators and personnel at all levels, they have continued to provide the best law enforcement possible for this community. As a former deputy and supervisor, I’m well aware of the staffing issues that have plagued the department for years. There have never been easy solutions to staffing shortages, but choices for deployment and call response have always been prioritized based on service.
With recent history toward law enforcement, staffing shortages have become critical and tough decisions had to be made regarding how to respond to calls for service. Other agencies have experienced shortages, but they’ve found ways to continue. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office used a nationwide campaign with hiring bonuses and increased pay as incentives to hire qualified personnel. This is now the reality facing not only CCSO but many agencies.
The sheriff and the Deputies Guild have now placed responsibility with the Clark County Council for assisting in solving the problem. Any solutions will not occur immediately and will take time to implement, but they must be done. In the meantime, cuts mean they can’t continue to do more with less.
