Graver pleads case for need for additional deputies

     Aside from approving the hiring of a new sheriff’s deputy, the Jones County Board of Supervisors also heard from Sheriff Greg Graver and Deputy Dan Jacobs about staffing issues.

     Sheldon Macke was approved at start on Jan. 3 at $26.80 an hour. This position had been vacant since Travis McNally left the department in July to pursue a career with the Iowa State Patrol.

     “It was a difficult decision to make as far as hiring,” noted Graver of the candidate pool.

     He said they narrowed it down to two candidates following an extensive background check. “Both had such strong strengths,” praised Graver. He added that it took an additional month to even make the decision.

     “I am hopeful and confident with this decision,” he continued. “Macke has a long family history in law enforcement.”

     Macke also has a four-year degree in parks and natural resources enforcement and criminal justice. He was a certified law enforcement officer in Wright County in Western Iowa.

     “He grew up here and wants to get back to the area,” Graver said.

     With budget time fast approaching, Graver and Jacobs wanted to bring the department’s staffing issues to the supervisors’ attention.

     There are currently 11 officers working for the sheriff’s department, which contracts with six cities in the county. Calls for service have fluctuated since 2017:

     • 2017 saw 5,224 calls

     • 2018 saw 6,156 calls

     • 2019 saw 6,864 calls

     • 2020 saw 6,212 calls

     • 2021 (so far) saw 6,378 calls

     Graver surveyed seven counties. Jones County has the second highest population of these seven counties, yet we have by far the highest numbers of calls for service, working with less deputies.

     In 2017, Graver hired two staff members. In 2018, a patrol position was added. From that point on, Graver added to the dwindling jail staff, but never returned to the board of supervisors regarding his department’s needs.

     Over the last 10 years, Graver has spent department funds on patrol vehicles, computers, a new dispatch center, a new records management system for the entire county, a backup dispatch center, increasing the jail staff, renovating the civil offices, and implementing the new P25 emergency radio system.

     Still experiencing low staffing levels in his department, Graver said the Transport Division is now operating daily with inmates housed in other counties.

     One way in which Graver tried to lessen the burden on his staff was to eliminate the need for deputies to respond to dog calls within their contract towns.

     “We consider these nuisance calls and not criminal calls,” he said. “It was extremely time-consuming.”

     Graver said it still comes down to boosting morale within his department and eliminating the pressure on his deputies.

     “The staff are annoyed because they take the brunt of the shortage. I take the political fallout because we’re unable to provide double the coverage every weekend and holiday shifts. We don’t have the numbers.”

     Graver described his department as being “very call-driven.”

     “We can’t keep up with the demand. We’re a rural county with urban problems, crimes, and influences. We’re two deputies short to run two on every shift.”

     In comparison, he said some neighboring counties have more deputies, they take less calls, and can still pay their deputies more.

     With one deputy on duty at night, Graver said it poses a safety concern.

     “It’s just been a very difficult year for our agency,” he said. “And I don’t see it changing much.”

     Jacobs said two months ago he reached out to the supervisors to advise them of the staffing situation. He admitted that he was offered a position with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, “but I stuck it out here hoping to make Jones County better.”

     “We take 2,000 more calls here with three less deputies (than Delaware County),” he shared. “Let that sink in.”

     Jacobs said Jones County has been short-staffed ever since he started working for the sheriff’s department. With less staff, deputies have to resort to working 12-hour shifts.

     “We all have extra duties,” he said, on top of their regular calls.

     And when a deputy is out sick, “we’re screwed,” added Jacobs. “Morale is pretty low because we’re all frustrated. It’s not because of the leadership; we have no time off and we’re always behind.”

     Jacobs said job openings in law enforcement are constantly coming in, offering better pay, better benefits, and even sign-on bonuses.

     “We need to do something,” he urged the board, “as the county retains what we have.”

     County Attorney Kristofer Lyons offered his perspective as well, working closely with the sheriff’s office.

     “I see their frustrations,” Lyons said. “They’re working too much in a stressful job.”

     Lyons said work in his office slows down when he’s trying to get the necessary information from an officer for the purpose of a prosecution.

     “They need more staff and they need it now,” urged Lyons.

     Graver said he is looking to add two more staff to the day shifts to have double the coverage for those shifts.

     “I don’t know what funds are available to pay for it,” he said. “Do we need to raise the tax on the public safety side?”

     Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach asked if more squad cars would be needed with the additional staff.

     “That is another hot mess we’re dealing with,” Graver said. Due to issues with the supply chain, he said they are unable to get parts to fix the vehicles they have.

     Typically squad cars are replaced every five years. Graver said with the issues they’re having, an additional year is being placed on their vehicles.

     “I’ve had mine for seven years,” he said.

     Supervisor John Schlarmann asked if the overtime would go down with two more officers.

     “Potentially,” Graver offered. “It should relieve some of that.”

     The board asked Graver to put together two departmental budget scenarios with adding one additional deputy versus adding two.

     “Two is the need we have and it’ll fix a lot of our problems,” Graver said.