Mahoning sheriff furloughs 11 full-time deputies

YOUNGSTOWN — Faced with a $3 million budget shortfall, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department has furloughed 11 full-time deputies and left four other full-time deputy positions vacant after resignations for a saving of $500,000 a year.

The furloughed deputies, all with less than two years of service, and all within their probationary periods, were let go on Tuesday, said Maj. James Lewandowski. Because of their probationary status, none of them have recall rights.

Through contract negotiations now underway with the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents department employees, the department is attempting to achieve an additional $2.5 million in savings, Lewandowski said.

“We are trying to reduce our budget by $3 million, and we have made one small step toward that by having a reduction in force of 15 people,” Lewandowski said. Last year, the sheriff’s budget was about $21 million. This year, it is expected to drop to about $18 million, he added.

All of the furloughed deputies worked in the county jail, and they will be replaced with deputies who will be transferred to the jail from other tasks, Lewandowski said.

The department has 285 sworn personnel, including both deputies and officers, and 17 civilian employees.

The jail will remain at “100 percent staffing and bed availability,” and the sheriff’s department will continue to provide law enforcement services throughout Mahoning County, Lewandowski said.

“We’re going to meet all of our mandated responsibilities,” he said. “We’re not eliminating anything, but we are pulling our belts tighter and reducing operations within other areas of the department,” the major said.

Read more in Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com