Putnam Sheriff’s Office Asking For More SRO’s And New Employees

Sheriff Eddie Farris will ask for new employees when he meets with the Putnam County Budget Committee Thursday evening.

Farris said one of his main goals for the new fiscal year will be hiring five additional school resource officers.

“We’ve got five schools that still need a full-time SRO,” Farris said. “We are making sure that we have those schools covered each day, but it would be nice to go ahead and fill those positions.”

The sheriff’s office will also request four new correctional deputies to help manage a jail population that continues to grow. Farris said the new jail employees would also prepare the county for a project to expand the current facility.

“Looking ahead, it will take a couple of years to get that facility built,” Farris said. “but there’s no way that we can hire an extra 20 to 25 people to help run the jail facility the year that we get it built. That would be impossible.”

Farris will also ask for funding to hire a part-time evidence technician and one new road deputy.

The Putnam County Budget Committee meets with Farris on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.