The members of the Hancock County Deputy Sheriff’s Association are committed to serving and protecting our community with professionalism, integrity, and dedication. Every day, our deputies respond to emergencies, assist those in crisis, and work to keep our neighborhoods safe.
We believe it is important to keep the public informed about ongoing challenges that impact our ability to provide the level of service you deserve.
In recent years, our department has faced concerns related to funding, staffing levels and resource allocation. These factors directly affect response times. officer availability, and overall public safety. When resources are limited, it becomes more difficult to maintain the high standards of service our citizens expect and rely upon.
We are also concerned about how certain public funds, such as opioid settlement resources, are being prioritized. While we recognize the importance of addressing addiction and supporting recovery efforts, we believe law enforcement must be adequately funded to respond to drug-related crimes, overdoses and associated public safety risks.
During the last two years, Commissioner Chek and Commissioner Cowey have made it clear they want to defund the sheriff’s office. As of today, they have refused to release any opioid settlement monies to the sheriff’s office. They are refusing to cut all other departments under them for the 2026/2027 budget year except for the sheriff’s office. We have lost eight deputies because they want to DEFUND the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office! Please remember this on May 12, 2026!
Hugh Tate, President Dante Dijirolanio, Vice President Scott Little, Secretary Clinton Schon, Treasurer
