Winnebago County Sheriff Wants Budget Hike to Fight Crime

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) – The new Winnebago County sheriff says the community should “stand up to” crime by approving a $6.7 million budget increase for more officers and equipment. The Rockford Register Star reports it will be a tough balancing act for the county board. It’s wrestling with a $2.1 million shortfall for the coming fiscal year even before considering Sheriff Gary Caruana’s request.

Caruana took office in December. He says people don’t feel safe walking the streets and that the community should “put our foot down and stand up to that.”

Sheriff’s department figures show its staff is down nearly 16 percent since 2007. Caruana wants to add 14 deputies for patrol, three detectives and 26 corrections officers for the county jail. He says the hires would restore staff to previous levels.

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