As your Sheriff here in Waldo County, I want to share with everyone that we are committed to developing committee partnerships and programming for the betterment of our community.

Over the past few years, the Sheriff’s Office has worked with our community partners to begin several new programs including our new Community Liaison program as well as the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program. Both of these programs are designed to direct the appropriate services to individuals in need in the community while lessening our dependance on incarceration.  

We applied for and were approved for a grant to create aCommunity Liaison Program. The program began on April 1, 2020. Between April and August, the Community Liaison answeredmore than 70 calls for service. 

Many of these calls were to people in crisis from mental health issues or substance use disorders.  

The program has become so successful, the County Budget Committee and County Commissioners approved a second Community Liaison position in the 2021budget. 

The Sheriff’s Office continues to develop and enhance invaluable partnerships with organizations such as New Hope for Women, the Restorative Justice Project, Volunteers of America, and many mental health and substance use treatment providers to name a few.

The goal for each of these programs is to improve public safety and community health.

I want you all to know we are thinking outside of the box to provide the best in law enforcement and correctional services to our community.