Wichita County officials say jail staffing tight but training pipeline remains strong

Wichita County Commissioner Court heard May 29 that the county jail is operating below capacity but faces staffing pressures as several employees leave for law-enforcement jobs.

County maintenance and jail staff reported the jail population was "running below 500," with 12 federal inmates transported earlier that morning. Staff also said crews completed 39 maintenance work orders last week and are scheduled to install a replacement booking-area window beginning June 29.

The meeting focused largely on personnel: staff said jail school recently finished and eight graduates were placed on duty while two posts remained open. Commissioners were told six employees submitted resignations this week — one to the Air Force and four to police academies — and that roughly 11 applicants are in background checks. "We hope to have about six" new hires pass backgrounds, staff said.

Commissioners framed the turnover partly as a sign of progress: one commissioner told the court that losing staff to police departments is not wholly negative because jail positions can be a stepping stone to law enforcement careers and can help recruit younger applicants. Staff said the county has at times rehired former employees at higher pay to remain competitive with nearby agencies.

Pay and certification questions also arose. Commissioners asked about a maintenance position tied to the jail; staff said that the maintenance hire must be certified as a jailer and that three internal candidates are available, with one likely to be selected.

The court also discussed overtime and how it relates to vacancies. Officials reported 1,722 overtime hours in recent accounting and noted that because overtime often covers scheduled vacation and sick leave, it is not a simple one-to-one conversion to full-time slots.

Staff reported that patrol-side overtime tied to the 287(g) program is billed monthly and is reimbursable; the county expects to recover those overtime costs through routine billing.

The court did not take a formal vote on personnel policy at the May 29 session. Staff indicated recruitment and pay adjustments will continue as the county fills openings and finalizes hires that clear background checks.