Sheriff Lays Off Entire Comm Center Staff

Budget cuts have forced the Marion County (Ohio) sheriff to lay off all six of the comm center dispatchers, replacing them with deputies. Sheriff Tim Bailey told a reporter, “I don’t see a loss in service or the quality of service. If somebody calls with an emergency, we will answer it and someone will be there.” County commissioners asked department heads to cut 6% from their budgets to make up a $2.6 million deficit. Bailey said he trimmed $80,000 from fuel and training, but needed another $92,050 in savings, which he obtained from the dispatcher cuts. The lay-offs are effective July 1st.