News Story #2

There won’t be any more police cruisers or new officers hired this year for the county’s police force, according to a vote at the county commissioner’s meeting Thursday.

 The Commission President Anne Chenn along with 4 other members voted against Sheriff Gus Discesari, saying that they don’t have the money for the cruisers or the extra deputies. Two of the commissioners, Shenuski and Laybourne supported Sheriff Discesari, saying the county should spend more money on law enforcement rather than programs for the migrant workers who come to the country to work. President Chenn denied the migrants were the problem of the budget shortcomings this year.

 Increased costs of healthcare for employees, higher fuel costs, and the building of a new prison due to overcrowding all added to the inability for new cruisers and deputies.  Discesari says that they are in need of eight new cruisers because it’s no longer cost effective to repair and maintain the old ones. Chenn suggested the deputies not drive the cruisers home each night, stating this would preserve mileage on the cars and make them more available.  Discesari argued that driving the cruisers home at night is a deterrent to crime.  . President Chenn says they will have to make do as the county simply does not have the money for the law enforcement department this year.