Eaton County to eliminate afternoon road patrol

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Beginning on December 1, the Eaton County Sheriff's Office will eliminate road patrol coverage from noon to midnight as a cost-saving measure.

The Separate Tax Limitation proposal to provide funding for critical services in Eaton County did not pass at the ballot box.

The Eaton County Board of Commissioners, at its Ways and Means Committee meeting on November 8, supported the Sheriff to implement cost-saving measures to lessen the budget and support his current staff.

"My deputies cannot keep filling shifts with overtime. It is unsafe, unfair, and it comes at a high cost," said Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich. "I have already spoken with or sent correspondence to the other law enforcement agencies in the County on this coming change."

In 2022, the Eaton County Sheriff's Office eliminated the midnight to 6 a.m. shift due to staffing shortages. The absence from noon to midnight will leave Eaton County Sheriff's Deputies' only coverage outside of contracted areas from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

"The future of road patrol in this County is in flux," said Board of Commissioners Chair Jim Mott. "We do not have the funds, so unless we can secure more revenue systematic reductions are coming to Eaton County."

According to the Eaton County Sheriff's Office, there are 10 cadets in the academy due to grant funding. However, unless more funding is secured, the office will not be able to keep them after Field Training concludes later next year.

Coverage in Eaton County will have to be picked up by the Michigan State Police.