Knox County Sheriff Daniel Weckesser told the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 26 that his office is interviewing candidates to fill two positions at the jail to bring it to full staffing.
The update comes as the Sheriff's Office works to address staffing needs and maintain compliance with training requirements for its personnel. The effort to reach full staffing is part of ongoing initiatives discussed during the commissioners' meeting.
"We're interviewing two candidates for open positions in the jail," Weckesser said, according to a video recording of the Sept. 26 commissioners' meeting. "Once the interviews are complete and we can take these two candidates on board, knock on wood, hopefully we will be fully staffed into jail."
Weckesser said the jail had 88 inmates incarcerated the morning of Feb. 26. Thirteen of the inmates were female, with the remaining 75 inmates male.
He added that the Sheriff's Office is working on setting up a training coordinator to make sure staff remain up to date on state and federal training requirements. The position is being filled in-house, with the duties added to existing duties. Major Mark Perkins will take on the role.
Work continues at other facilities, with Weckesser reporting progress on the Sheriff’s Office evidence building and hoping evidence can be moved back in by late May or June.
