Commission Rejects Sheriff’s Request for 15 More Deputies

The County Commission, on 3-2 party-line votes, denied his budget requests to hire 15 more deputies and for $1.3 million to fund the operation of two helicopters.

The commission did agree to provide $800,000 for the helicopters and to hold the remainder in reserve pending attempts to get the city to help pay for the aircraft.

Houston blasted commissioners afterward. He noted that he was a Republican sheriff who had to seek approval for spending from a Democrat-controlled body.

The votes were clearly political, he said, and the commission is trying to make him a “token” sheriff. Houston questioned whether he can keep people safe with the resources approved.

Commission Chairman Art De La Cruz, a Democrat, strongly disagreed with Houston’s characterization. He noted that the commission, just last month, approved five extra deputies — the first expansion of the force in about a decade.

Other sheriffs, he said, have managed to keep the community safe.

The remaining 15 deputies sought by Houston will be considered in about a year, De La Cruz said.