Budget cuts have forced the Butler County Sheriff's Office to reorganize and tighten its staff for 2009.
According to Chief Anthony Dwyer, the office knew cuts would be required at the end of 2008 and it has taken the first few weeks of the year in order to make the required changes.
Dwyer said approximately 12 jobs were affected by the cuts, but numbers cannot be exact because many positions were cut and employees were given new duties.
"At least three (employees) completely lost their employment and 10 or so had their positions cut," Dwyer said.
Other sheriff's office cuts included a captain's position and an entire division that had been run by a lieutenant.
Dwyer said the job duties of the lieutenant's division were split and redistributed to other people.
"Basically, we freed up some bodies to plug some holes," Dwyer said.
A majority of the staff is now working 12-hour shifts because Dwyer said research has shown employees will take less sick leave and less overtime will be paid.
Dwyer said the new structure is particularly beneficial in the jail division, where positions require posts and sick employees are hard to replace.
"This is an experiment for us," Dwyer said. "They work the same amount of hours, but the structure is different."
According to Dwyer, the other job cuts are due to budget restrictions.
"We looked at anything that wasn't fully funded and that was the first to go," Dwyer said.
According to Dwyer, the budget constraints greatly affect school resource officers, who are partially funded by the schools. Schools have been informed if they do not carry the better part of the cost, these officers will not return next year.
The D.A.R.E. program will also be cut for next school year.
Outside of cuts in the schools, Dwyer does not expect the public to be directly affected.
"We're running leaner than we have, but I think we're still maintaining a workforce that can get the job done," Dwyer said.
The sheriff's office has also cut energy consumption by using fewer lights and eliminating employee use of electric heaters under desks.
Dwyer said the entire office was asked to contribute ideas to cut costs.
"We're trying everything we can think of," Dwyer said. "We're not out of the woods yet, and you have to do what you have to do in tough times."
Reporting by Erin Fischesser
