Boone County sheriff reports staffing changes, promotions and two major crashes

At the Feb. 5 meeting the Boone County sheriff provided an update on department staffing, recent personnel changes and major calls handled in January.

The sheriff said patrol remains three officers short and that the department is running interviews this week and next; one lateral hire entered the Field Training Officer process and new academy graduates will finish soon. He listed recent retirements and promotions — including the chief deputy, Sergeant Funk, and Lieutenant Darren Rowe — and named upcoming promotions and sworn dates scheduled for Feb. 13–14.

The sheriff credited the detective bureau and SWAT team for handling a recent firearms-related restraining order and thanked the state's attorney's office for expedited electronic search-warrant support.

He reported two major traffic crashes in January: one fatal crash at 20 and Shattuck and another at Caledonia North that, at the time of his remarks, involved a deputy who remained hospitalized and at last report was in a coma. The sheriff called the incidents serious and said resources were stretched but that cooperation among units helped manage investigations.

He also noted the department is in the process of moving parts of operations into the PSB basement and thanked county staff for accommodation during the transition.

The sheriff offered to answer questions and acknowledged enforcement and staffing constraints when the board discussed traffic enforcement later in the meeting.