The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office will be increasing its number of deputies soon, though it’s not for a reason you would typically expect.

Sheriff Chad Leonard says he was approved to hire an individual whose primary job will be to provide security at the courthouse entrance. Leonard says the necessity of the position became apparent since the County Motor Vehicle Department moved into the building a few months ago. He emphasizes, with all the additional traffic at the courthouse, it’s become hard for deputies to break away from the entrance to fulfill other tasks. “You know, they’re averaging over 200 people a day at the counter for motor vehicles, but most of those folks bring in their families. You know they’re bringing in their little kids and stuff, and we welcome that. But that’s adding 400-500 people a day that court security is now running through the metal detector and through court security process when you enter. So we’re unable to properly man the courtrooms now when court is in session, so we had to ask for another person to go up there and help. So that’s the process we’re in right now.”

The County is currently seeking applicants, and will likely fill the position some time in early 2020. Leonard adds, they’ll possibly require even more deputies assigned specifically for court security in the future, when the current jail facility is potentially repurposed to criminal courtrooms. He points out, that aspect is still a ways away so they’ll cross that bridge when it comes. To learn more about this and other Sheriff’s Office topics, click the link below to listen to the recent Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Leonard.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2019/12/04/lets-talk-dallas-county-12-4-2019-chad-leonard/