Burleson County sheriff reports 41 inmates and multiple staffing vacancies at May court meeting

At the Burleson County Commissioners Court on May 22, 2023, Chief Garrett Durrenberger delivered the Sheriff’s Department report, saying the county jail housed 41 people and that the department is operating with staffing shortfalls.

"We have 41 in Jail with 40 males and females," Chief Garrett Durrenberger reported during the department report. He told the court the Sheriff’s Office had three jailer positions, two deputy positions and three dispatch positions vacant. Sgt. Stohler added the department was reporting two vacancies with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The report was presented as informational; the court recorded the departmental update in the minutes but took no formal vote specific to staffing or resource requests at that time. Commissioners later approved routine road and infrastructure motions and adjourned.

The minutes do not record further discussion, specific timelines for hiring, budget allocations tied to recruitment, or operational contingencies tied to the vacancies.