'There's no one riding to our rescue with a saddle bag full of money' | News

ALBANY, Ore. - At the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Tim Mueller says employees are like a family.

"I grew up with these folks," he said. "I've known a lot of these people forever."

Which made it even harder for him to let go 13 co-workers on Tuesday.

"I tell you what, never, not in my worst nightmare did I ever think I'd be here," he said.

Mueller said it's the first time the sheriff's office in Linn County, Ore., has had to lay anyone off since the 1980s.

"We've made a lot of cuts in the last four years, but we've been able to hold the line in Linn County because of our law enforcement levy."

But that levy is slowly being compressed because of declining property values, meaning there's just not enough money to go around.

"Unfortunately, there's no one riding to our rescue with a saddle bag full of money," he said.

They're cutting 22 positions, including 11 control room operators, one nurse and four sergeant positions.

And there will be less room behind bars for convicted criminals and people accused of crimes: 48 jail beds will also shut down on March 1 to save $1.5 million.

"At midnight on the 29th of this month we're not going to just open the flood gates and say here you go boys, go forth and sin no more," said Mueller. "It's not gonna work like that."

Instead, Mueller said some offenders could be put on home supervision and sheriff's work crews.

"Yeah it's definitely not good in Linn County," he said. "For sure we do not want to be where we're at."

Even with fewer jail beds and staff, Mueller said they're still committed to the community.

"People need to feel that they're safe in their homes," Mueller said, "and they still are in Linn County."