WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE STRUGGLING WITH PERSONNEL RETENTION
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is struggling to keep personnel.
In his monthly report to Washington County Commissioners this (Tuesday) morning, Washington County Chief Deputy Jay Petrash said the sheriff’s office has had several resignations over the past few weeks, with two deputies resigning within the last few months. He said the sheriff’s office is now down seven jailers and three deputies, and has not had any applicants.
Petrash said the sheriff’s office continues to search persistently for prospective candidates.
At the court’s meeting on June 8th, Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak also pointed to the shortage of staff at the jail, calling it a “major security issue.” During that meeting, commissioners approved a $2 increase in starting pay per hour for jail lieutenants, corrections officers and jail sergeants to help address the issue. A month later, Petrash told commissioners that the sheriff’s office had filled a few open positions after the pay increase, but was still looking for jailers.
Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:
- Approved a final plat for the Farm Houses of Pleasant Hill subdivision on Pleasant Hill School Road.
- Approved the purchase of a remount by Frazer of a 14-foot module onto an F-450 chassis for EMS through the Houston-Galveston Area Council. EMS Director Kevin Deramus said the expense was budgeted at $82,000 but will cost $77,000.
- Approved a replat of lot 4 in the Randermann subdivision fronting Happy Hollow Road in Precinct 3.
- Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Lange Lake Road in Precinct 3.
- Approved formal notices from AMP Texas Pipelines, LLC for natural gas pipeline road bores on Glenblythe Road and Old Gay Hill Road in Precinct 3.
- Passed 60-day extensions of 32.5 excess vacation hours for Victoria Conarroe with Washington County Human Resources and 14.5 excess vacation hours for Sergeant Derrick Washington with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
- Proclaimed October 25th as Go Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Washington County.
- Heard monthly reports from EMS and the Veterans Service Officer.