A proposed wave of budget cuts in Seneca County is drawing sharp criticism from the county’s top law enforcement official, who says the changes could cripple public safety and undermine years of progress.
Sheriff Timothy J. Thompson issued a public statement late-Monday blasting the proposed reduction strategies, which include cutting non-mandated services, limiting overtime, and reconsidering take-home patrol vehicles. He said these measures would stretch an already-thin department to the breaking point.
Cuts would target road patrols, school officers, and overtime
One of the most alarming possibilities, according to the sheriff, is eliminating the sheriff’s road patrol — a frontline service that handles emergency calls, assists other police agencies, and responds to public events. Thompson called the idea “not only dangerous but [one that] undermines the work that every sheriff and county board member has put into our agency.”
The sheriff argued that state police, often cited as an alternative, face their own staffing struggles and can’t realistically absorb the demand.
Thompson also raised concerns about the potential impact on the school resource officer program. A request to expand the program into Waterloo had to be denied, he said, because of current manpower shortages. “It takes about one year to hire and train a new deputy sheriff,” he noted — a timeline that makes quick expansion nearly impossible.
To meet existing demands, the department has already reassigned a deputy from narcotics enforcement to road patrol. Even with new hires in the pipeline, they’re still in training and won’t be ready until after the police academy in January 2026.
Take-home vehicles help response times, sheriff says
The proposal to eliminate take-home vehicles for deputies also drew strong pushback.
Thompson said the program saves time and money, allows for faster response to emergencies, and boosts visibility in neighborhoods. He also said it strengthens recruitment and retention, noting that nearly every surrounding county offers the same perk.
“Over the course of my law enforcement career, I have personally responded to emergency calls for service while responding to work or going home,” Thompson said, arguing the practice provides a safety net during shift changes — a vulnerable time for law enforcement coverage.
He warned that changing this policy could have legal consequences related to employment terms and would require deep financial and operational review.
Community outreach and training on the chopping block
Another key concern: reductions in what the county is calling “non-mandatory overtime.” Thompson believes this would gut community relations and training efforts — both of which often happen outside regular hours.
Without overtime, he said, programs like National Night Out, safety trainings for churches and daycares, and the department’s Citizen’s Academy could disappear. “Our citizens love these events and their interactions with our members,” he said. “Programs like these are the true definition of community policing.”
Training could also suffer, even though the sheriff’s office is a fully accredited law enforcement agency with strict training requirements. Thompson said keeping up with changing laws and practices helps reduce liability and use-of-force incidents. “The benefits to the community far outweigh the costs,” he said.
Staffing reductions already hurting key units
The final reduction strategy — only filling positions deemed essential — is already taking a toll.
Following a recent retirement, the sheriff’s office now has a vacancy in its child abuse investigations unit. Thompson said he’s hopeful the county won’t freeze the position, but the uncertainty is making staff anxious.
“These cuts follow $650,000 in reductions absorbed last year,” he said, noting that such drastic measures weren’t imposed under the previous administration. The sheriff added that many deputies are now considering leaving due to instability.
“The voters of Seneca County elected me to be their Sheriff, and I will continue to fight for them,” Thompson said.
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