Law Enforcement Staffing Shortages

Staffing shortages have been common in recent years in nearly every profession nationwide, but it’s been very problematic in law enforcement. Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says there has been a sharp decline in people getting into the profession following the George Floyd incident 4 years ago and it hasn’t recovered.

Sheriff Cruze says they are fully staffed now in dispatch and administration and just about fully staffed with deputies, but they are in need of staff members in the jail. He says you do not need post-secondary education for the jail positions and they pay well.

Sheriff Cruze says there can be unruly inmates on occasion, but there is back-up; and most of those in jail are good people who have made mistakes. He says you receive training and there is vacation time, holidays and sick time, and they are 12-hour shifts which means that you work 173-days a year versus 260-days for the 8-hour-a-day jobs.

Sheriff Cruze says you can come in to the jail for a tour and check it out or call the jail if you have any questions at 693-5415. He says the jail positions are posted on the Meeker County website.