WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — The Williamson County Deputies Association (WCDA) says its deputies aren't getting sufficient support from the commissioner's court.
On Tuesday morning, the union held a press conference detailing what it says is a lack of support from the Republican members of the court. The association claims one commissioner is giving them the support they need, but that it's not enough.
The deputies union said it's continually struggling with staffing and funding issues.
"We need help," WCDA President Charles Duval said. “Years and years of neglect by the commissioner's court has put us in a position of 445 deputies below the national average. This neglect makes our community and the deputies less safe.”
County Judge Bill Gravell claims he was unaware of any staffing issues and said he thought the court has been generous with the department.
"I didn't vote to add additional because the data didn't support it, and I certainly thought the $8.743 million increase in budget this year was an incredibly kind gesture by a court," Gravell said. "And if this Republican court is so horrible, then why has the sheriff's office received the greatest amount of resources in the last three years than in the history of the sheriff's office?"
If the deputies don't get help, they say they'll ask the State of Texas for more officers.
"Everybody relies on my swift water, my SWAT, my crisis intervention, my dive recovery team, my crime scene," Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason said. "Right now, Georgetown is one of our largest cities. Right now, 80% of my crime scene goes there because we’re covering it."