16 sheriff's deputies may become part of drug task force
Sixteen Butler County sheriff's deputies may become part of the district attorney's drug task force.
Sheriff Mike Slupe said cross-designating the deputies who also are certified police officers as detectives would help fight the war against drugs.
Slupe said the deputies would work for the task force when they are not serving their regular shifts for his office.
He explained the deputies already are authorized to make drug arrests, but require the cross-designation to initiate an investigation.
Slupe has 24 full-time deputies and four part-timers.
District Attorney Richard Goldinger said he is receptive to the idea, but the details need ironed out.
Goldinger said his office is not short-handed, but it could only help to have more people working on drug cases.
The cross-designation requires an approval by the county salary board.
In this case, Goldinger, the three county commissioners and county controller would vote.
The next salary board is scheduled for next month.
The commissioners expressed concerns about deputies being sworn in as county detectives.
Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said more information needs gathered before a decision could be made.
Commissioners Kim Geyer and Kevin Boozel agreed.
Controller Ben Holland said he would support a salary board motion for cross-designating the deputies, but it's really a budgetary issue.
The deputies would be paid overtime while working as county detectives. Goldinger's office would repay Slupe for those wages.
