Buffalo, N. WBEN - Last month, Erie County lawmakers approved using reserve deputies, some of whom work at Highmark Stadium, to work on the backlog of pistol permit applications. One lawmaker voted against the move, claiming the sheriff was misleading. Jeanne Vinal voiced her objections to the plan during a meeting last month.
So seasonal employees are seasonal for one thing, and second of all, they're working at the stadium that full amount gets reimbursed," says Vinal. She says they were never seasonal employees, they've been working full year round. Vinal says she also objected to the fact the sheriff's budget is high.
So it's over half of the budget is the sheriff's office, not half of the county tax is the sheriff's office," explains Vinal. Sheriff John Garcia says there are some reserve deputies assigned to the stadium, while other reserve deputies are assigned elsewhere.
He says this came about when Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns kept his office open late to accept thousands of pistol permit applications. So I did not want to deprive the people of their hard earned cash and also of their constitutional rights," explains Garcia. He says the job got done.
Garcia adds it's a huge undertaking, and more fiscally responsible by doing it now with part timers. He notes all of them have gone through a Municipal Police Training Academy.
