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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Improving investigations ... Local Democrats may face three conventions to replace Bates ... Memorial services set for Sen. Bates ... Improving investigations ... Local Democrats may face three conventions to replace Bates ... Memorial services set for Sen. Bates ... POLICE FOUNDATION REPORT Improving investigations Sheriff says he'll seek creative ways to ease overworked criminal division Comment By Nick Morgan For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Nick Morgan For the Tidings Posted Aug. 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Nick Morgan For the Tidings Posted Aug. 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Addressing an overworked criminal investigations division is among the first suggestions Sheriff Corey Falls plans to adopt from a planning study report released Friday. The nonprofit Police Foundation of Washington, D.C., said the Jackson County Sheriff's Department needs a fifth detective, based on an analysis of 432 cases the division handled in 2015. Falls said the county budget for the current fiscal year, which began in July, is locked in place and another detective can't be considered until 2017. But the report suggests creating new positions that use staff from within the department, such as a "criminal investigative aide" — a civilian who would handle routine administrative tasks, allowing detectives to spend more time following leads. Falls particularly liked the report's suggestion of "field detective" positions, a hybrid of deputy and detective who would handle such tasks as search and arrest warrants and suspect interrogation. Falls called the suggestion an "innovative concept." "I think there's some creative things we can do without adding additional bodies," Falls said. Falls said he already has addressed some of the suggestions inside the 51-page report commissioned by the sheriff's office and posted on its website Friday. The $40,000 study began in December and involved ride-alongs and interviews with staff, four focus groups and caseload analysis of the patrol, criminal investigations and medical examiner divisions. The report suggests Falls hire an undersheriff to handle more day-to-day tasks, which would allow Falls to tackle broader initiatives. Falls said he began recruitment for the position shortly after his election in 2015. "That is something we do need," Falls said. "The hurdle is just finding the right fit. "My focus has been more internal than external." The department should move away from funding traffic deputy positions through ticket fines and fees, the report says. "The Jackson County Sheriff's Office should take a hard look at this practice with the goal of eliminating it. The events over the last several years around Ferguson, Mo., and the numerous small jurisdictions in Saint Louis County resulted in the discovery of police agencies that existed almost exclusively to fund themselves through traffic citations and fines. Justice was not well served by those practices," the report says. Falls said that out of necessity, he reassigned two of the six dedicated traffic deputies to handle criminal calls last year on an as-needed basis. Five years ago, the sheriff's department had 26 criminal deputies, but that number dropped to 16 in the 2014-15 fiscal year because of budget cuts. The number of criminal deputies rose to 18 in the 2015-16 fiscal year. The four focus groups organized by the Police Foundation targeted members of the business, residential, social service and civic communities for their input. Each group had a minimum of 10 participants, the report says. Falls gathered that the public's perception of sheriff's deputies and the department was largely positive. "I was actually expecting people to be more critical," Falls said. Criticisms included requests for additional resources devoted to handling property crimes such as thefts and vandalism, and increasing jail space. "I don't think that's a secret that jail space is a concern," Falls said. Filling the five open staffing positions inside the jail is Falls' highest staffing priority, he said. Three corrections deputy candidates are undergoing the rigorous background check portion of the application phase, Falls said. The candidates will then undergo medical and psychological tests in an application process that takes months. Falls said once the jail reaches its full staffing level, he would be open to reopening the jail basement floor temporarily, on the condition of approval of more positions. "We ultimately need more bodies than we have right now," Falls said. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Nick Morgan For the Tidings Posted Aug. 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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