Dane County sheriff calls for restoration of frozen deputy posts
Sheriff Kalvin Barrett says the freeze on 20 deputy positions affects staffing and backup support, especially in rural areas.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin D. Barrett argues that county officials should lift a staffing freeze affecting 20 deputy positions in the 2027 budget.
In a public statement, Barrett says the positions were frozen in 2026 and their funding redirected. He says the vacancies affect investigative work, mental health response and front-line supervision, as well as the Sheriff's Office's ability to provide backup to police agencies.
The sheriff places particular emphasis on rural Dane County communities that rely on the department for primary law enforcement service. In his view, overtime is not a lasting replacement for filling authorized positions.
Barrett calls on the County Board to restore the posts. These are the sheriff's assessments and request, rather than a separately verified staffing analysis.
