COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Sheriff’s Department is looking to cross train another deputy for road patrol, but is having to get creative in funding that training.
The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted during their work session on Thursday to bring forward a request from Sheriff John Pollack for an $8,000 budget transfer so that a corrections officer can be trained for road patrol duties. The money would be moved from overtime to training.
Pollack said he had to make the request after he found out from the Michigan Sheriff’s Association the department could not use money from their Local Corrections Training funds because according to the association, it was not for corrections training.
The Sheriff said one of his senior road supervisors will be retiring in April 2018 and they need to replace him. Academy training for the officer will take 16 weeks.
Commissioners are scheduled to take formal action next Tuesday.
