Sheriff Pulling 3 Deputies Off SWAT and Requesting Cuts to Fuel Usage
YAKIMA COUNTY -- KIMA has new information on how budget cuts are affecting the Yakima County Sheriff's office. Last week we broke the news that sheriff, Ken Irwin is laying off three deputies and demoting several others in an effort to save nearly $500,000. Now the the sheriff is also pulling his three deputies off the SWAT team.
KIMA spoke to the union representing the deputies about all these cuts. The president of the Deputies Guild says the union feels the layoffs are "unnecessary given the number of deputies has already dropped by seven in the last few years." He also called the cuts a real "danger to public safety." He also said the cuts represent a "lack of support by county administrators for law enforcement in Yakima County."
Guild president, Eric Wolfe says the sheriff's office lost 4 other deputies to retirements and other agencies this year and that if those spots are left open, the layoffs really mean the sheriff is losing 7 deputies. Last week, Sheriff Irwin said the cuts were necessary because he'd spent all his reserves preventing layoffs over the last 2 years.
The Sheriff is also looking at cuts to fuel usage as a cost cutting measure. He's asked patrol deputies to drive less and park more and that unless the department can drop fuel costs by 15-20%, there could be more layoffs by the end of next year.
The Sheriff says he's asking his deputies to think more strategically instead of just covering more miles in a shift.
He's getting a head start on the goal by talking to the U.S. Marshals. It will pay for the gas used by YSO deputies involved in the Violent Crimes Task Force. The feds are also covering their training, overtime and equipment costs as well. That would save the sheriff several thousand dollars a year.
KIMA spoke to the union representing the deputies about all these cuts. The president of the Deputies Guild says the union feels the layoffs are "unnecessary given the number of deputies has already dropped by seven in the last few years." He also called the cuts a real "danger to public safety." He also said the cuts represent a "lack of support by county administrators for law enforcement in Yakima County."
Guild president, Eric Wolfe says the sheriff's office lost 4 other deputies to retirements and other agencies this year and that if those spots are left open, the layoffs really mean the sheriff is losing 7 deputies. Last week, Sheriff Irwin said the cuts were necessary because he'd spent all his reserves preventing layoffs over the last 2 years.
The Sheriff is also looking at cuts to fuel usage as a cost cutting measure. He's asked patrol deputies to drive less and park more and that unless the department can drop fuel costs by 15-20%, there could be more layoffs by the end of next year.
The Sheriff says he's asking his deputies to think more strategically instead of just covering more miles in a shift.
He's getting a head start on the goal by talking to the U.S. Marshals. It will pay for the gas used by YSO deputies involved in the Violent Crimes Task Force. The feds are also covering their training, overtime and equipment costs as well. That would save the sheriff several thousand dollars a year.
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