Staff shortage forces southern Indiana sheriff to stop scheduling deputies overnight

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Washington County Sheriff's Department in southern Indiana will no longer have deputies on duty from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., citing an "unprecedented" lack of officers.

"This is not news that I want to deliver to the citizens of Washington County," Sheriff Brent Miller said in a Facebook post Friday. "This is not a decision that has been made lightly. To the contrary, we have made change after change to the schedule in an attempt to continue 24/7 coverage for the county."

Miller said his deputies are working seven or eight consecutive days in row, sometimes with 16-hour shifts.

"That isn’t safe for anyone," he said. "We are trying to maintain appropriate police coverage, but simply can’t keep working the way we are."

Miller said the department, based in Salem, Indiana, is down six deputies: two are currently in training, one is on light duty and there are three open positions. He said a "recent salary survey" showed their starting salary is $9,000 below that of surrounding county sheriff's departments and city police departments.

"Our deputies are simply leaving for more money," he said.

Washington County resident Susan Fields agrees deputies need to be paid more.

"I think they do need to pay the deputies more, I mean they are putting their lives on the line every day," Fields said.

Miller said 10 deputes have left since he took over in January 2019. Three left law enforcement, but the other seven accepted positions elsewhere, some making $15,000 to $20,000 more than Washington County is paying.

"The applicant pool has been shrinking drastically and all police agencies are competing for the same applicants," Miller said. "They are going to go where the money and benefits are better. You can’t blame people for wanting to better themselves."

Counties are required to send all new deputies to the police academy at the county's expense. Miller said he was told the county doesn't have money available to fix the issue. In the meantime, he's asked Indiana State Police to provide coverage to the overnight shift.

"Even if the State Police are able to provide additional coverage, it is the responsibility of the county government to provide public safety for the citizens they represent," he said. "I sincerely hope the county council will come to the table and work with me, my department, and the Merit Board to address this very serious public safety issue."

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