Iron County Sheriff's Department remains committed to providing services

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Hurley — As county facilities restrict access to the public and county officials seek to limit in-person interactions in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich is reassuring the public that essential services will continue to be provided and deputies will continue to patrol the community.

“Crimes will continue to be investigated, as they always have. I want people to be assured, we will always be available,” Samardich said, adding that the department is adapting to the community’s additional needs as they arise.

“We are there, we will get through this together. The services we provide will still be there,” he continued.

He said although road patrols are continuing, that doesn’t mean the department is changing how they patrol somewhat in response to the virus.

This includes practicing social distancing when possible, obtaining more information via phone before deputies arrive at non-emergencies and having interactions outside a home when possible.

“We’re just as concerned about bringing something into a home as we are them spreading it to us,” Samardich said.

He also made clear the department would continue to enforce Gov. Tony Evers’ order closing various non-essential businesses and limiting where people can go. He said it seems most people seem to realize the importance of cooperating with the efforts to help stop the spread of the virus.

The department has also instituted new procedures at the Iron County Jail, according to Samardich, such as suspending visitations and screening people at the door. Although attorneys are still meeting with their clients in the jail, Samardich said all non-essential services have also been halted.

The sheriff’s department has also stopped non-essential fingerprinting and other services the community normally uses the sheriff’s department for.

The department is also no longer automatically responding to every non-emergency medical call the local paramedics are dispatched to, Samardich said, although he made clear that they would be there if needed.

“If we’re in a position to help, we definitely will,” he said, explaining he has been in communication with the ambulance services in the county and there is consensus not to send everyone in to a situation if it’s not necessary.

Samardich acknowledged that many of the changes are a departure from the way residents are used to conducting county business.

“People are used to just walking in and having a conversation with a department head or a sheriff or somebody else. This is new to us in Iron County … we’re used to being a bit looser here than some of the bigger areas,” he said, adding that everyone is still in this together.

Samardich said he felt Iron County has been proactive in its approach to the pandemic and credited Emergency Management Director Stacy Ofstad with helping develop a plan to respond to the pandemic.

Samardich said the various department heads and county officials have been meeting frequently in response to the fluid situation.

He also continues to work with the Hurley Police Department and other local agencies, as well as communicate with the other 71 sheriffs around the state. On a recent conference call, the 72 sheriffs discussed plans and challenges everyone is facing — such as obtaining enough personal protective equipment for employees, Samardich said.

He said the county has a supply of needed equipment, but the uncertainty surrounding the virus means Samardich would like more — especially the disposable items the department has to go through.

“Like everyone else, we don’t know how long this is going to last,” he said.