For the first time in recent memory, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is operating at full staffing capacity. Three new corrections officers — Lucas Givens, Parker Moore and Elysia Moran — joined the department this week, completing a recruitment push that has kept administrators busy throughout the year.
The milestone is significant for a rural agency that provides 24-hour law enforcement and jail services to more than 22,000 Jefferson County residents across 1,781 square miles of high desert, ranch land, and forest stretching from the Warm Springs Reservation to the Crooked River Ranch community and beyond.
New Faces in Corrections
Givens, Moore and Moran join a department of more than 40 full-time members that includes patrol deputies, detectives, school resource officers, and civil and civilian staff. The Sheriff's Office corrections division manages the Jefferson County Jail and had been among the more difficult units to keep fully staffed during recent years of tight law enforcement labor markets.
Earlier this year, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a budget that included funding for an additional patrol position — a move Sheriff Jason Pollock called critical to sustaining service levels.
"I appreciate that county leadership understands the importance of maintaining strong public safety services for Jefferson County while being responsible with taxpayer resources," Pollock said. "Additional staffing means support for the employees who are already carrying the workload today."
Madras PD Faces a Tougher Market
Just a few blocks away, the Madras Police Department is still working through its own hiring challenges — and it's a problem shared by departments across the state.
Madras Police Chief Elder says the department isn't short on applicants. The bottleneck is finding candidates who can make it through the rigorous law enforcement hiring process.
"The challenge is in finding qualified applicants who are capable of navigating through the hiring process successfully," Elder said. "Agencies, basically across all of Oregon, are in competition for a relatively limited pool of qualified applicants that are able to do that."
Departments across Oregon — from rural counties like Jefferson to mid-size cities like Bend — compete for the same certified officers and promising recruits. Starting pay, career advancement opportunities, and geographic preferences all influence where candidates ultimately land.
A Growing County
Both agencies serve a region that has seen steady residential growth, particularly in Madras and the Crooked River Ranch area. Keeping up with that growth in terms of public safety staffing remains a persistent challenge for county and city officials.
The Sheriff's Office patrol division is led by Sergeant Ben Toops and currently includes seven road deputies, one corporal, two contract deputies, three detectives, and two school resource officers working with Jefferson County School District 509J.
Anyone interested in a career with the Madras Police Department is encouraged to visit the City of Madras website or contact the department directly for information on open positions and the application process.