Sheriff Talks About Staffing | News

CLARENCE, N.Y. -- The recent news of another prisoner being mistakenly released has the Erie County Sheriff speaking publicly again about staffing levels at the sheriff's department.

The county hopes to hire 72 new supervisors and deputies by 2015 to work in county jails which will fulfill a state recommendation.  Sheriff Tim Howard says the staffing plan has the support of the County Executive.

The sheriff told us he believes the new levels should help the problem of mistaken releases and that the funds needed are a front-loaded expense.

"We can save money with more people and reducing overtime and fatigue and sick time, but we have to spend money up front before we displace another worker," said Howard.

The sheriff told us that last month's mistaken release was due to two deputies who did not look at an inmates identification bracelet, and if more supervisors were added to the ranks, simple procedural problems like this would be eliminated through more training.  The money to fund the additional jobs still needs to be approved by the county legislature.

The sheriff made his comments at a public outreach event in Clarence.