What's at stake?
The City of Huron has had to outsource some law enforcement services following severe staffing shortages and high worker turnover. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has served the southwest county community since October.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will continue providing law enforcement services to the City of Huron through June, amid the city’s police staffing shortage.
About five months ago in October, the sheriff’s office began filling in for Huron’s law enforcement needs, according to county documents. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved a new $1.68 million contract Tuesday that would extend that relationship until at least June.
Although Huron has funding for 15 police officer positions, it only had six on staff as of October. Huron Police Chief John Hall said his police department now has 10 officers, with four others going through the hiring process. Hall told Fresnoland on Tuesday that the assistance was much needed as police staffing levels continue to improve.
“We had a great continuity of services,” Hall told Fresnoland. “There was no break in public safety patrol functions.”
The news is a change of fortune for the department. The situation was so precarious at the time that Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said last year he had provided the city with full-time law enforcement services, if needed.
“Sheriff has been absolutely phenomenal,” Hall said, before adding his appreciation of California Highway Patrol, too, which he said also provided supportive services to the city.
The retroactive agreement approved on Tuesday is for a six-month term that started at the beginning of the year. It includes an option to increase the service term for an additional six months through the end of 2026.
“It should cover us with room to spare,” Hall said, adding that he does not foresee the agreement extending beyond the current term.
Tony Botti, public information officer for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, said that “being assigned to law enforcement duties in the city of Huron has been a positive experience for our deputies.”
