Commissioners approve 10 detention sergeants to reduce overtime costs at county jail

The Bexar County Commissioners Court on Oct. 28 approved the addition of 10 full‑time sergeant positions for the county detention center, saying the hires should reduce overtime and FLSA payments that county officials said have been high in recent years.

Sheriff’s staff told the court that filling the 10 positions would convert work now covered by overtime into straight‑time payroll and produce net savings over time. The sheriff’s office presented figures showing historical overtime paid to detention personnel and a projection that the added sergeants would lower overtime spending.

Commissioners questioned the presented math and asked staff to clarify whether the overtime total used for comparison represented only the overtime associated with the proposed 10 positions or all sergeant overtime across the jail. Sheriff’s officials said the new positions would eliminate most sergeant overtime in the South Tower, which has been understaffed.

After clarification exchanges, the court approved the staffing augmentation. County officials said the measure is intended to reduce overtime costs and stabilize staffing in the South Tower as the jail increases operations there.