Cole County Sheriff’s Department faces staffing shortage, high turnover rate

The Cole County Sheriff’s Department said it is facing a turnover rate like it has never seen.

Right now, the department is short four positions with another one opening up next month, according to Capt. John Wheeler.

The department lost 17 employees in 2015. And so far this year, it has already lost 7 more.

Not only is the department short those four positions in the jail division, it is in need of additional employees it does not have money for, Wheeler said.

The staffing shortage takes a toll on people with the department, he said. Many are leaving for higher paying jobs.

“We’re losing people to those greener grasses, those greener fields that they think is greener because of higher pay,” Wheeler said.

Earlier this year, the sheriff’s department asked the Cole County Commission for longevity pay raises within the department. But the issue was tabled for a later date.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get together with the commissioners and talk about this issue because it’s only going to get worse before it gets better,” Wheeler said.

The department also asked commissioners for three new positions in the jail and one detective. The commissioners denied the request in a 2 to 1 vote.

Commissioner Sam Bushman was the one vote in favor of adding the positions to the department.

Wednesday, Bushman told ABC 17 News the commissioners are set to meet in April to look at salaries county-wide.

Bushman said he hoped to come to an agreement with the sheriff’s department to help with retention.

Commissioners Jeff Hoelscher and Kris Scheperle could not be reached for comment.