Williamson County deputies want help from DPS troopers amid staffing crisis
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - The Williamson County Deputies Association say something has to be done about the staffing crisis, or they will have to call in state assistance.
Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason and Deputy Charles Duvall, the president of the Williamson County Deputies Association, held an emergency press conference Tuesday to demand immediate action from the Commissioners Court.
"Williamson County can only be saved by Governor Greg Abbott by sending troopers from DPS to our aid," said Association president Charles Duvall.
A DPS deployment, similar to what was done in Austin is what the deputies' association wants.
Sheriff Mike Gleason stood with the association, but did not immediately endorse the request.
"We haven't even looked at that. I was hoping for that to be amended today. And it was not," said Sheriff Gleason.
Sheriff Gleason said he was hoping the county commission would provide funding for 21 new deputies, however, the association wants more.
"According to the FBI, the national average for counties is 2.8 deputies per thousand residents, so currently the county has 0.78 deputies per thousand residents. We need an additional 445 new deputies to meet the national average number of deputies," said Duvall.
FOX 7 was told the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, as of August 29, was one person shy of being fully staffed. Typically, the WCSO has nine deputies on patrol during the day, and 11 at night, according to the association.
A few minutes before the news conference, County commissioners did approve four additional positions for the sheriff’s office, for a total of six new deputies in the new budget.
A statement was issued by County Judge Bill Gravell. It was noted the Commission, in the past three years, increased the budget for law enforcement by more than 26%. Commissioners also said the recent low number of calls for service does not justify a larger force.
"If we funded what the sheriff's Deputies Association is asking for, we would have to set a tax rate that would be so offensive that it would anger our citizens. Listen, we don't have time for tomfoolery," said Judge Gravell.
Judge Gravell, and most of the commission, accused the sheriff of not communicating with them, and being blindsided by the Associations "crisis" claim, which initially was written and released on the Sheriff’s Office letterhead.
"I’m not supporting this measure today because I’m not going to be bullied by one person who does a last minute press conference," said Judge Gravelle about the motion to increase the number of deputies.
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The discussion during the commission meeting brought the sheriff out of his seat and an even quicker reaction from Judge Gravell.
"Sheriff, you can speak outside at your press conference, you’re not going to speak now," said Gravell from the dias.
Association members admit their call for DPS intervention is politically motivated. Sheriff Gleason and Judge Gravell both indicated this fight may have to be resolved at the ballot box.
"I got to work with what I'm given, you guys that live here. They got to ask yourself, ‘Am I happy with the way they treat my public safety,’" said Sheriff Gleason.
Judge Gravell told FOX 7 the funding debate should not be a Republican issue or a Democrat issue.
"It's about keeping our community safe. And here's the truth. If the sheriff is not able to keep us safe, then perhaps it's time that we find a new sheriff here in Williamson County," said Gravell.
The City of Austin is also facing a staffing shortage in the Austin Police Department and called for state assistance, but suspended the partnership with Texas DPS in July saying, "This partnership was an innovative approach to address acute staffing shortages that were years in the making. However, any approach must be in sync with Austin values."
Texas DPS has continued to patrol Austin despite the partnership ending. After the City announced the suspension, Governor Abbott deployed 30 additional DPS troopers to Austin bringing the total number of troopers on patrol to 130.