Local FOP President TJ Assion said there's a very simple solution to the manpower problems plaguing his department and threatening services like staffing video hearings for local courts.
"If these services need to continue, and these commissioners and these political subdivisions want them to continue, then the commissioners need to fund us appropriately," he said.
Last week, Assion's boss, Sheriff Randall Wellington, told commissioners and city leaders with Youngstown his department is short 23 officers because of budget cuts. Now he's planning to curtail the video hearings for Youngstown Municipal Court so he can reassign more deputies into the jail.
Commissioners called the move a political stunt while city officials complained they were being used as "pawns."
"That could not be further from the truth," said Assion. "If anybody has ever been used as pawns, it's been the members of Local 141."
But commissioners insist there is no extra money to give the sheriff, claiming a $4.5 million carryover from last year has already been earmarked.
"We talk about workers' comp, unemployment costs, fees for outside counsel, audit fees," said Commissioner John McNally.
While McNally said he and jail administrators are trying to come up with more revenue, union leaders say assaults against deputies in the jail are increasing as inmates realize what's happening.
"They know that it takes "x" amount of time to get there," said Lisa Beam. "They see that there's smaller numbers approaching in the pods with the issues that are going on."
