KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller says he has plans to add new sheriff’s deputies to his staff, but only if he can find the money.
Fuller wants five additional deputies on patrolling the streets.
“That’s driven by the population that keeps growing in the outlying areas of Kalamazoo County,” Fuller said.
He’s also wants another five corrections officers, a jail cook and clerk typist.
He’d pay for it using another $320,000 from the county, and by reshuffling $800,000 that could be made available if consolidated dispatch operations are funded with a voter-approved increase in the 911 surcharge beyond the current 42 cents.
“If the dispatch authority is able to support itself through another mechanism, I want to be able to continue to spend those dollars in the budget, but for other things,” Fuller said.
County commissioners would have to agree to place that question on a ballot.
