Sheriff Scott Ciccarello told the Allegany County Public Safety Committee on Jan. 2 that staffing vacancies, recruitment and retention remain the sheriff’s top priorities and that competition for law-enforcement applicants is intense across the region.

Why it matters: Staffing shortfalls and equipment limitations affect response capacity, detention operations and the county’s ability to provide services such as prisoner housing and emergency response.

Ciccarello said hiring remains difficult because of statewide workforce pressures and hiring restrictions. He described three main priorities for the department: filling vacancies, improving recruitment and retention, and seeking grant funding to offset equipment and personnel costs. Ciccarello said county HR (named in the meeting as Bobby) has been “very helpful” in recruitment efforts, and that the sheriff’s office is engaging local high schools and colleges for recruitment.

The sheriff confirmed two recent panic-alarm responses: one at a Department of Social Services location (DSS) and one at a department abbreviated in the transcript as DFB. He also told the committee the office had been contacted by the U.S. Marshals about possibly housing people pending extradition hearings; Ciccarello said the sheriff’s office will “follow the law” and cooperate with federal authorities if asked.

Committee members asked for a brief update on radio projects. Ciccarello arranged to have Matt Evans and Dustin Zajac present highlights at the next public safety meeting to update members on the status of radio upgrades and related projects.

Ending: Members thanked the sheriff and asked the department to return with a radio-project presentation and an end-of-year report at the February meeting.