by Dave Ward,

Harney County Sheriff

Citizens of Harney County, sheriff’s office staff, and commissioners, the Harney County Sheriff’s Office is not currently funded or staffed to provide adequate law enforcement or search and rescue services necessary to the citizens of Harney County. As well, our severely outdated county jail is not only underfunded, but is out of compliance with the standards required by law, and has been understaffed for years. Our jail staffing levels fall below the lawful minimum staffing levels per shift for the state of Oregon.

Due to the county’s current budget cuts, the sheriff’s office is subject to significant cuts in funding. These cuts come on top of the 10 hours of furlough time per month being deducted from the paychecks of our county employees and elected officials. With cuts to our budget, instead of being able to fix the issues our jail faces, these cuts will compound the situation.

I am no longer willing to accept the civil liability associated with the failure to appropriately fund/staff our jail, search and rescue, or law-enforcement services to our community. These are not frivolous expenditures, they are duties and responsibilities of the sheriff, mandated by law.

I am not willing to cut services to the citizens of this community, nor am I willing to continue operating a jail that is not funded to meet the minimum standards required.

In my assessment, the only way for the county to overcome the current budget crisis is by eliminating employee positions. If a person needs to be eliminated from our sheriff’s office, then I choose for that person to be me. My recommendation to the citizens of Harney County and our county court is to appoint one of our Harney County deputies to the office of sheriff, and not backfill the vacant deputy position.

It is my opinion that our citizens deserve better service for their tax dollars than a cut in law-enforcement services and an underfunded jail that will most likely be shut down in the near future for failure to meet the minimum lawful requirements.

It is my intent to resign from the office of Harney County Sheriff on Dec. 31 of this year. I would like to thank the citizens of Harney County for your support over the years. It has been an honor serving you.