Jacksonville has operated with an understaffed police department for several years. Salary levels lower than other law enforcement agencies in the Rogue Valley has made it difficult to recruit and retain police officers.

Jacksonville City Council has approved an agreement with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office that will provide police coverage during nights in town until the middle of 2026.

City councilors unanimously voted for the agreement Tuesday evening. Jackson County’s Board of Commissioners will also need to approve the agreement.

A lack of police officers in the Jacksonville department has already resulted in hiring deputies this year to cover shifts. Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe briefed the council on preliminary plans to rebuild the department’s numbers over the next three years.

“The hybrid (agreement) will create a bridge we need to get us back to full staffing,” said Towe. “If everything goes according to plan … at the end of three years we should come back with six instead of five officers.”

Jacksonville has operated with an understaffed police department for several years. Salary levels lower than other law enforcement agencies in the Rogue Valley has made it difficult to recruit and retain police officers. Retired police officers have helped fill the shortage at times.

Towe told the council that as he spoke Tuesday there was no patrol officer on the streets because no one had signed up for overtime. The department has relied on officers agreeing to overtime shifts.

Having six officers rather than the current five would allow officers to take time off, said Towe. Officers have voiced concerns about it being hard to get time off because someone would be needed to fill in.

Councilor Andrea Thompson said when the idea of a hybrid agreement with the county first came up, she feared it might be part of a plan to transition to the county taking over policing full time.

“I’m finally comfortable with this plan. It gives us the opportunity to rebuild,” said Thompson. “The goal is to not spend a minute longer in this contract than we have to.”

Issues that councilors brought up during previous discussions were included in the contract, making it “a really good agreement,” said Councilman Ken Gregg.

“I encourage you to approve the IGA with Jackson County for law enforcement services. It’s extremely important for our security and safety,” Jacksonville resident Mary Schrouder said during public testimony on the issue. “I consider this a huge compliment to the city of Jacksonville and city staff that Jackson County would consider this.”

Jacksonville officials had discussed the hybrid arrangement for a number of months. Sheriff Nate Sickler met with the council in a study session May 16 to detail how contracting for deputies would work. The council held a study session Sept. 19

Towe and Sickler have already spoken about how the shifts would be covered. There will likely be six 12-hours shifts per week and one eight-hour shift.

The deputies will work out of the Jacksonville Police Department on South Third Street, Towe said.

Payment to the sheriff’s office will be $300,000 annually for the next three fiscal years. The payment will be made quarterly and will be prorated for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The contract calls for two full-time deputies and one sergeant at .10 FTE.

A coordinating committee composed of the sheriff, city administrator, mayor or their designees, and the sheriff’s department operations division commander will be formed. The group will meet as needed on issues and concerns related to law enforcement and public safety in the city.

Whenever possible, the officers assigned to Jacksonville by the sheriff’s office will be personnel who volunteered for duty in the city.

Towe introduced new hire Sgt. Matt Hannum to the council. Hannum has worked as a police officer in town in the past and remained on a part-time, as-needed basis since January 2022.

He was hired to be the full-time sergeant effective Oct. 2 as part of the rebuilding plan, which includes training him to become chief when Towe retires. Towe has served the city for 33 years.

“When I’m ready to move on, Matt will hopefully be the person the council is comfortable with,” said Towe. Hannum had also worked as a police officer in New Mexico.

The Jackson Conty Sheriff’s Office currently provides contracted officers in White City and Shady Cove, said department public information officer Aaron Lewis. Those deputies work out of substations in the two cities.

Earlier this year the council approved raising the police protection surcharge from $20 to $35 per month in anticipation of rising costs for the hybrid contract and rebuilding the department. The increase became effective in late August.