ALFRED — A York County Sheriff’s Office deputy will be assigned to an FBI Task Force that will operate in York County.
Sheriff William King on Tuesday said the approval by York County commissioners last week means the sheriff’s office will be able to work on significant federal cases.
“It will bring a federal task force to York County to address some of our major multi-state crimes that we don’t have the resources to address now,” he said.
York County commissioners approved the assignment of a deputy to the task force at their Nov. 15 meeting, after discussing the matter on at last two previous occasions. They voted on the issue after concerns about cost reimbursements and liability issues were ironed out.
“These concerns were alleviated; everything is kosher, the county is protected,” County Manager Greg Zinser told commissioners.
The deputy will split his time between the two agencies.
Commissioner Marston Lovell said he favored the plan.
Commissioner Richard Clark said he still had concerns.
“This should have gone through the budget process,” said Clark. “By transferring an officer you reduce your ability to cover the work you have laid out or you do it with overtime. I think it reduces rural patrol.”
“It comes down to where we get the best bang for the buck,” said Commissioner Mike Cote, who said he believes the sheriff is in a better position to judge that matter,
Cote said there is always a concern that rural patrol might be down by a person in the short term.
“But if we can take care of a major issue before its a major problem. … I tend to lean toward doing it,” said Cote.
The vote was 3 to 2, with Clark and Commission Chairman Sallie Chandler dissenting.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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