The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has no vacancies left, except in the jail

One year after approving pay raises and a policy that provides incentives for sheriff's deputies to stay on the job, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office's Law Enforcement Division has no vacancies and has made significant progress in reducing jail vacancies.

Staff shortages and mandatory overtime have been a pervasive problem over the past decade, as a significant portion of the inmates at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center require intensive care due to mental health issues.

“We have made great progress in reducing jail vacancies, reaching the lowest levels in years,” Sheriff Javier Salazar told the San Antonio Report on Wednesday. “In the face of a statewide staffing shortage, we have maintained our highest standards and successfully attracted qualified applicants, a result of the court-approved salary increase.”

Officials say forcing officers to work overtime is expensive and has a negative impact on officer morale. There are about 100 vacancies in the sheriff's detention department now, up from about 200 in November. About 170 cadets in six classes are currently being trained to fill some of those positions, officials said.

“By simplifying the path to patrol, this program has not only improved our ability to protect and serve the community, but has also reduced the overtime burden on our current deputies and ensured they can continue to provide the high level of service that the residents of Bexar County expect and deserve,” said Ron Tooke, president of the Bexar County Deputy Sheriff's Association, in a press release.

The “straight to the street” policy allows Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar to send newly hired deputies straight to patrol without requiring them to first serve two years as jailers. After 34 weeks of training and earning a peace officer license, aspiring deputies can skip jail duty if they so choose.

“In the history of the sheriff's office … we cannot find a case where anyone has ever been able to go directly into police service” without first serving as a jailer, Salazar said after the incentive guidelines were approved last year.

Modern workers expect “that flexibility and more control over shaping their career path,” he said.[It] makes the crucial difference.”

The program also offers current prison guards the opportunity to transition into patrol duty, while providing them with an incentive to stay in prison by giving them priority for future, more competitive patrol jobs if they first serve in prison.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has no vacancies left, except in the jail

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The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has no vacancies left, except in the jail

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