Sheriff's office seeks new detective

FREMONT — After operating with a short staff since 2008, the Sandusky County Sheriff's Office is asking county officials to approve funds to hire a new detective in 2016.

Felonies such as drug arrests, burglaries and thefts have increased and sheriff detectives Sean O'Connell and Zach Zender have had to work longer hours and take on more cases, according to chief deputy Bruce Hirt.

"If we had another detective, a lot more could get done," Hirt said. "In years past we had three."

Hirt referenced the current caseload on O'Connell and Zender, saying investigations into the Heather Bogle homicide and drug-related crimes in the county are consuming the majority of the detectives' time.

For now, the department continues working with two detectives and, in cases like the high-profile Bogle case, collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to assist in investigations.

Police seek help in Bogle homicide case

"Some of the more serious crimes require two or more investigators," Hirt said.

While acknowledging the increase in detective work, Sandusky County Commissioner Dan Polter said he prefers to see statistical evidence to support the request for a new hire.

"With a detective we're looking at about $75,000 to $80,000 with benefits," Polter said. "We don't know the need because everything we get in here is people coming and saying, 'We need this.' They don't substantiate the statistics."

Sandusky County Auditor Jerri Miller said the sheriff's office 2015 budget was approximately $4.9 million, slightly up from the $4.6 million budget used in 2014.

Polter said Ottawa County compiles an annual report, a practice he would like to begin in Sandusky County because reports show details on what funding is needed.

"When a judge comes over and says, 'I need a new magistrate,' something like this may show the caseload is trending lower," Polter said. "I'm big on where you've been. If you've got the trend, then now you have the justification to spend."

Commissioner Charlie Schwochow said understanding trends, collecting data and informing the public on county needs is more important than ever with reduced budgets.

"If we have to put a levy up on something and this is the trend, we have substantiated numbers that are telling everybody that this is the direction we are going. That is a perfect way to have a justification," Schwochow said.

Because of the demand for more money among county departments, Polter said he would like to see departments compile yearly data for an annual report that would better show commissioners where money needs to be allocated.

Hirt said the department has struggled since 2008 due to budget cuts and that the workload continues to increase.

It's never ending," Hirt said. "They (O'Connell and Zender) have cases come by their desks each day. It's difficult to work all these cases."

In comparison, Sandusky County has the same number of detectives as neighboring Ottawa County, but Sandusky County's population is more than 30 percent higher  — 60,179 to 41,154, according to 2014 census estimates.

Polter said he is not opposed to hiring a new detective, but feels there are several factors that need to be discussed before approving the funds.

"It's too early to tell. We don't know where we are sitting (with a budget). We told them to do their budget with the normal positions and then put this position on the bottom of it, like a wish list," Polter said.

With the possibility of a new drug task force being formed in Sandusky County, Polter asked Hirt if adding a detective to that team would satisfy the needs of the Sandusky County Sheriff's Office for another detective.

"We need one just to handle ongoing cases," Hirt said. "We could really use four and have one just for drugs."

Polter said he expects to receive a budget from the sheriff's office — which would include a new detective position — by the end of October.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: CraigShoupNH