Sheriff's office reports staffing gaps; court approves overtime for jail and dispatch

Chief Deputy Rios told the Commissioners Court March 24 that the sheriff’s office is short-staffed, listing openings for two jailers, three dispatchers, one full-time nurse, three patrol officers, a school officer in Somerville and possibly one investigator. He reported the jail population at 56 inmates (45 males and 11 females).

Following that report, Commissioner David Hildebrand moved and Commissioner Bobby Urbanosky seconded a motion to approve overtime for the jail and dispatch for April; the motion passed unanimously. The minutes record the approval but do not include a projected overtime cost.

The court recorded the staffing needs alongside routine actions; no further operational directives or hiring authorizations are included in the minutes beyond the overtime approval.