Elk County Sheriff's Dept To Close
By: Aaron Cheslock
Updated: December 7, 2012
RIDGEWAY, ELK COUNTY - Sheriff's Deputies told us that on Wednesday, Elk County Commissioners told them they couldn't afford to keep the office open. However the Commissioners say that they're not shutting down anything, because the department operates on its own budget. Sheriff's Deputies told us hundreds of thousands of dollars in warrants and citations won't
be processed now, and will have to be redone at the beginning of the year, costing tax-payers money. Theresa Merritt's the Elk County Chief Deputy, she says their real worry is not having a check next week.
"...There's 6 people in the office that are going home today with no idea really what's going on. When they're coming back to work, its right before Christmas, they have children. They don't know when they're going to get salaries."
The Sheriff's Department filed a lawsuit earlier, demanding funding to keep their office open. However it won't even be heard until December 14th. The County Solicitor says he just got the lawsuit this morning - and says he won't comment on pending litigation.
