Mulga, AL - A second round of cuts for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has some rural residents in distress.

Every Jefferson County department is now being asked to cut 33 percent from it's budget. That's equals about $5 million for the sheriff's office. Sheriff Mike Hale says if these cuts become a reality, 150 deputies will lose their jobs.

It's frightening news for many people living in unincorporated Jefferson County, who rely on the sheriff's office as their only means of protection. Residents living in Mulga, Sylvan Springs and Oak Grove say they're very concerned about lack of patrolling and slow response time. They're nervous about deputies getting reassigned to rural areas they're unfamiliar with. Residents also say they fear their neighborhoods will become hot spots for thieves. Some say speeding and reckless driving are already on the rise.

"Instances where seconds count and an officer can be minutes perhaps even an hour or two away if they're on another call," says John Echols, Mount Olive resident.

"There's a substation up the road and they'll probably take it," says Deb Kilgore, Sylvan Springs resident.

"The response time is already a little slow, so if they cut officers that's going to make it twice as bad," says Jon Fitzgerald, Mulga resident.

"There really doesn't seem to be a plan. They're just cutting unilaterally across the board without regard for safety," says Rick Tuter, Pleasant Grove resident.

Sheriff Mike Hale says he understands resident's fears and is now urging county commissioners to reconsider additional cuts for his department. He says his office is already operating at bare bones and taking away more money and resources would lead to criminal chaos.

 Email To Friend