County Commissioners Approve New Position at Sheriff’s Office

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office gets so many open records requests that it will now hire someone to process them all.

Sheriff Keith Korenek appeared at the Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday, May 22, to request the new position.

“The position we’re asking for is a compliance officer,” Korenek said. “They won’t be law enforcement. We get so many open records requests that Candace (Koether, the Sheriff’s administrative assistant) gets so swamped with those. She can’t hardly do her other duties.”

In addition, Korenek said the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) regularly updates regulations and license requirements for law enforcement officers. The compliance officer would make sure deputies and jailers maintain compliance with those requirements.

“It’ll keep everybody up to date and make sure everybody is getting all their required stuff,” he said.

County auditor Cindy Havelka said the Sheriff’s Office currently has two open deputy positions. Accordingly, she said the department has enough money to hire someone for the new open position. If the Sheriff were to fill the two open deputy slots along with the new compliance officer position, the County could find unused funds in other departments, Havelka said.

The Court voted unanimously to authorize the new position.