WASHINGTON CO. NOT SENDING DETENTION OFFICERS TO TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER
Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak is not planning to send detention officers to assist at the Texas-Mexico border at this time.
On Friday, Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide call for jailers to assist border sheriffs with operating detention facilities. The state is seeking both current and former jailers who were honorably discharged within the last two years.
Hanak told KWHI this (Monday) morning that the Sheriff’s Office “will not be sending anyone to the border.” He said, “We barely have enough jailers to cover our shifts.”
Hanak told Washington County Commissioners at their meeting June 8th that the jail did not have enough staff members to properly monitor inmates. He said at the time that the jail was down eight out of 19 staff members for four shifts.
At that meeting, the court sought to address the issue by approving a $2 increase in starting pay per hour for jail lieutenants, jail sergeants and corrections officers. It also approved an interlocal agreement to house Washington County inmates at the Waller County Jail.