Clay County facing shortage of sheriff’s deputies

CLAY COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) — State Police will now be working third shift in Clay County from midnight to eight 8 a.m. taking over the Clay County Sheriff’s Department’s patrols.

State Police say this is starting after the department will lose two deputies in the weeks to come.

This will leave three deputies working the streets.

Trooper Craig Sutton says law enforcement shortages are happening all around the state so this really doesn’t come as a surprise.

He also says the new Clay County Sheriff is coming into office in two months so he feels many prospects probably don’t want to apply at this time, with a new change in administration coming soon.

Trooper Sutton says his post will just roll with the punches  and do what it is they need to do.

“If they don’t have a deputy available and we don’t have a trooper available over there at that time,” Trooper Sutton says. “Post will be contacting a trooper from an adjoining county to respond to that complaint or somebody that’s a little closer.”

He adds that no one should be worried the county will be without law enforcement.

“The thing is a lot of people worry they are going to be without law enforcement,” Trooper Sutton says. “They’re not going to be without law enforcement.”

He says it may take a little bit of time for some of them to respond to something but they will be there as quick as possible.