Blue State Blues: Amidst Staffing Shortage, Merced County’s Sheriff Is Often Sole Officer to Respond To Calls
7th May 2024
Merced County is just east of San José.
Sheriff Vern Warnke, who has worked in the county’s office for 45 years, is officially declaring a public safety crisis, according to a new report from Yahoo and the LA Times. Why? Because he’s often finding himself the only person available to respond to calls.
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Warnke has recently expressed deep concern over the rising number of deputy vacancies. In a recent video message, he lamented the staffing shortage, fearing it could jeopardize public safety, urging residents to recognize the severity of the situation.