Board of Supervisors likely to approve funding for KCSO recruitment efforts

The Kern County Board of Supervisors appeared to be in support of funding for the Kern County Sheriff's Office recruitment efforts on Tuesday. 

Sheriff Donny Youngblood had requested $1.3 million dollars to help with the cost of training new deputies during academies.

Youngblood estimates more than 50 deputies will be leaving the department due to attrition. Training new deputies can take upwards of 16 months, and supervisors saw the need to get the process started.

"It would have been catastrophic if they'd said no," Sheriff Donny Youngblood said after the meeting. "I'm encouraged that they understand the position that we're in."

Although supervisors voiced their support for funding the recruitment, it will not be made official until after next week's budget meeting.

"I think you saw strong support from this board to support Donny Youngblood and his efforts to recruit and retain," said Supervisor Leticia Perez.

The funding would help cover the training through November of 2017. KCSO is expecting 106 vacant deputy positions by that time; they project that the funded academy will help offset that loss by adding roughly 40 new deputies.