For the first time in years, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office can say it is fully staffed — a milestone Sheriff Jason Pollock is calling a turning point after a prolonged struggle to fill positions across the department.
The office recently welcomed three new corrections officers: Lucas Givens, Parker Moore, and Elysia Moran. Their additions bring the JCSO — which employs more than 40 full-time personnel including patrol, corrections, civil, and civilian staff — to full authorized strength.
Years in the Making
"Recruitment isn't what it used to be 10 years ago," Sheriff Pollock said. "We used to have folks that were really interested in law enforcement — to have a larger pool of folks to choose from has always been kind of the norm for almost every agency across the country."
Pollock attributed the recruitment challenges to multiple factors that compounded over several years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the national reckoning over policing following 2020. Both events, he said, had lasting effects on the public's interest in law enforcement careers.
"We had more homicides in Jefferson County in 2020 and 2021 than we've ever had in its history," Pollock said. "So that was really one of the drawbacks for recruitment and retention."
The 2026 county budget included funding for an additional officer position approved earlier this year — a move that helped accelerate the path to full staffing.
Madras PD Still Hiring
While the Sheriff's Office celebrates its milestone, the Madras Police Department is still working to fill officer positions. Interim Chief Angie Elder acknowledged the same broader forces at play.
"It really highlighted something I think that has always existed — which is that law enforcement just as a career truly does require a righteous amount of accountability," Elder said. "We are under a microscope a lot and we should be."
The Madras Police Department covers the city of Madras and operates as a separate agency from the Sheriff's Office. The JCSO, by contrast, provides 24/7 coverage across Jefferson County's 1,781 square miles, including Metolius, Culver, Crooked River Ranch, and the surrounding rural areas.
What Full Staffing Means for the County
For Jefferson County residents, a fully staffed Sheriff's Office means improved response times, stronger patrol coverage for rural communities, and reduced burnout for the officers who have been carrying heavier workloads during understaffed periods.
Anyone interested in a career with the Madras Police Department can contact City Hall or check for open postings online. The JCSO also periodically opens new positions — information is available through the Jefferson County government website at jeffersoncountyor.gov.