Knox County sheriff reports 98 inmates, says two deputies in narcotics K‑9 training

The Knox County sheriff told the Board of Commissioners on April 30 that the county jail held 98 inmates — 14 women and 84 men — with an April average daily population of 97. The sheriff said 15 inmates are currently housed outside the county and staff are "hoping to bring them all back soon as we get people working through the system and out, you know, released."

The sheriff said two deputies are in canine training with new narcotics dogs and "we hope to have both of them fully trained and certified and back on patrol by May," adding that the teams will be assigned to street patrol when certified. Lieutenant James Farrenbo, commander of the patrol division, told commissioners the agency currently has 26 uniformed deputies, including school resource officers and village units, and identified fleet maintenance as an operational concern after at least one cruiser was described as likely to be totaled.

Farrenbo said the department is training two new officers in the FTO process and is seeking to reach staffing goals that would provide seven deputies per shift or eight on busier shifts so supervisors can float and provide oversight. In response to a question about turnover, Farrenbo and the sheriff said nearby Franklin County is a common competitive destination, though recent resignations were described as individuals pursuing other careers.

Commissioners also asked about event and school coverage; Farrenbo described routine details for the county fair (two overnight officers, 5–7 officers during busy evenings) and confirmed SRO placements at East Knox and Centerburg. The sheriff and patrol commander emphasized training and staffing as the main priorities discussed with the board.

The meeting record does not show any formal action taken on staffing levels; the report was informational and concluded with commissioners thanking law enforcement for their service.