The sheriff-elect said during her first months in office she will be thoroughly reviewing the budget in an attempt to find money that can be used to put more deputies on the streets. That’s a priority, Burchett said.
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One way she will explore putting more deputies on patrol is by cross training. She said she hopes to get jailers trained to patrol the streets for when there is a need.
“That may be a good option because in the evening or night time, you may have a couple extra deputies in the jail you can move to patrol,” she said. “I would like to have the deputies all crossed-trained. It gives them more opportunities.”
She also plans to overhaul the administrative staff.
“I am bringing a whole new administration in there,” Burchett said in an interview with the Springfield News-Sun.
The sheriff-elect declined to list who will be named to the top posts in the office, including chief deputy and major. They will be announced at her swearing in ceremony on Dec. 28, she said.
She said she intends to fill those roles with people who have fresh ideas.
“Most of them are deputies from the sheriff’s office,” Burchett said. “Some are younger.”
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Maj. Russell Garman is one of the administrators who will be replaced. Garman has worked for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office for 36 years. He’s worked for the jail division, uniform patrol division, criminal investigation division and currently oversees the narcotic and fugitive task force operations.
Burchett said Garman won’t be retained as part of her changes.
“It’s nothing personal,” Burchett said. “I am bringing in my own people.”
Garman said he wanted to stay on and continue to serve the residents of Clark County.
“I wasn’t asked to come back,” Garman said. “It’s politics. It is what it is. I think I have a lot more I can offer to the sheriff’s office and the community.”
Garman said he has acted as a contact point to many federal and state agencies over many years. He said he wishes he could continue to be there for the people in Clark County.
“Together we did a lot of good things over the years,” he said. “Working together and having the faith and confidence in each other for the common goal.”
Burchett said no one besides Garman has contacted her to discuss the future of their jobs.
“I would expect them to but they have not yet,” she said. “The only one that I spoke to was Major Garman.”
Human Resources and Labor Relations Director Ben Hunt will stay, Burchett said, but she’s unsure if Budget Director Pam Underwood will continue.
She said she is excited to become sheriff.
“I just want to thank them all for electing me into office and having the belief that I can do the job,” Burchett said. “I know I can, but if it wasn’t for them, if it wasn’t for the community, I wouldn’t be in the office. I will be there for them on day one. I plan on being a community sheriff and in the community.”
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