Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND — The Washakie County Sheriff’s Office will be handling more livestock investigations thanks to a reduction in force approved by the Wyoming Legislature.
According to the budget approved by the Wyoming Legislature in March, “Beginning January 1, 2018, no funds from appropriations in this section shall be expended on salary and benefits for more than one senior livestock investigator by the livestock board. The board shall report to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee and the joint appropriations committee not later than November 15, 2017, on the monthly number of incidents, closed and open investigations and successful prosecutions resulting from investigations by livestock board law enforcement investigators during the period commencing January 1, 2017 and ending October 31, 2017.”
There are currently 19 full-time employees funded and the budget trims that to 16.
According to the Wyoming Livestock Board website, wlsb.state.wy.us, the law enforcement officers mission is to “protect the livestock interests of the State of Wyoming from theft and act as the investigative arm for animal health, brand recording and brand inspection units.
According to an Associated Press article, State Sen. Ogden Driskill told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that the livestock law enforcement team typically responds to one to two calls per week. Because of the state's tight state budget, Driskill says it would be better to have local law enforcement step in.
Washakie County Sheriff Steve Rakness said, “The sheriffs opposed this,” adding that sheriff’s offices around the state have enough crime to investigate. “We just don’t have enough deputies … we don’t have enough time.”
He said the sheriff’s office already works closely with the local brand inspector and with the elimination of three livestock law enforcement officers, the sheriff’s office and brand inspector will have to have more coordination than in the past.
“We’ve worked closely with [brand inspectors and livestock law enforcement] on issues around the state,” Rakness said. He said of the livestock issues in Washakie County only a few have been missing cattle, but most are abuse or animal neglect cases.
Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police Executive Director Byron Oedekoven said, “We were not in favor of the budget cuts from the state, passing duties and responsibilities on back to the counties. We looked at and suggested that if there were issues with the state to deal with it. We get budget woes and we understand budget constraints. It’s not something we train for. It’s not something we staff for, necessarily. We look to the livestock investigator as our first avenue and resource. Now the producer will look to the sheriff’s office for that, or the police department for that matter.” He noted police departments will also be involved if fairgrounds are within city limits and if a livestock crime occurs at the fairgrounds.
He said, “It’s an additional crime for law enforcement to deal with. One that starting Jan. 1 we don’t get additional staff to deal with. It’s not uncommon [for local law enforcement] to deal with livestock issues it’s just not our primary duty, we usually call on the state to assist.”
“It’s a traditional state duty that is being transferred to the county and city,” he added.
The Legislature did maintain one law enforcement position to act as statewide coordinator, Oedekoven said, “Hopefully that can help with training and help with issues associated.”
Rakness said the training will include the proper documentation that people need to transport livestock from one county to another and transporting livestock across state lines.