Sheriff asks board for four deputies, radio equipment match; board approves temporary MOU with town

Sheriff Richard asked the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors to fund four additional deputy positions and several line-item increases to address thin nighttime coverage, rising training and equipment costs, and long holds for people subject to temporary detention orders.

The sheriff described multiple recent incidents in which deputies had to sit with individuals under temporary detention orders until state psychiatric beds became available, tying up personnel for extended periods. He said the office currently often has only two deputies on duty at night, leaving little or no backup when incidents occur. To address those staffing and operational gaps, the sheriff requested an overall budget increase that included funding for four additional deputies (a package the sheriff presented as approximately $316,416.56 in total when combined with other line-item increases), new vehicles and vehicle outfitting, training and lodging budgets, and a $10,000 increase for fuel.

The sheriff also described a grant opportunity that could provide up to $75,000 for new portable radios and repeaters but requires a 25% local match (roughly $17,000–$18,000 depending on the award). The board agreed by motion to support matching the grant if awarded and to return with specifics once the award amount is known.

Separately, the board voted to approve a temporary memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the town documenting the town’s stipend that supplements sheriff compensation. During discussion staff noted the stipend is currently paid quarterly as a stipend rather than salary, which affects benefits and the locality’s share of benefit costs; the board instructed staff to bring back the finalized MOU with benefit-cost details for formal approval when available.

Why this matters: The sheriff framed the request as a public-safety priority: deputized staffing levels directly affect response times, proactive narcotics enforcement and the ability to handle mental-health holds without removing officers from patrol. The board signaled receptiveness but also emphasized the need to balance the request against school funding and revenue projections as the county finalizes its FY2025 budget.

The board did not adopt the full staffing request immediately; supervisors asked staff to model fiscal impacts and to include the request for discussion at upcoming budget work sessions.