Madras discusses alternative law enforcment options
Tyson Beauchemin
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Madras City Council is exploring new law enforcement models, including a possible contract with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. In a meeting on March 31st, officials reviewed the pros and cons of supplementing, or even replacing, their police force with the sheriff’s officers.
To this end, they consulted with former Deschutes County Undersheriff, and former interim Madras Police Chief Paul Garrison. Garrison is also acting as the city’s Interim Police Services Director.
However, Garrison cautioned the council against replacing their police force with sheriff’s officers. He highlighted the legal complexities that could be involved in a contract between the city.
During the meeting, Garrison also cited a study of more than 500 cities that terminated their agreements with sheriff’s offices.
“And, oftentimes municipalities now are canceling their contracts that they have the sheriff’s offices because, they’re dissatisfied with the level of service that they’re being provided,” Garrison said.
Council Member Lamar Yoder asked Garrison what he would do in the city’s current situation. Garrison said he would hire additional staff for the existing Madras Police Department rather than contracting out services.
The city of Madras has budgeted for 14 police officers, but currently employs only four or five.
This has created to a situation where Jefferson County Sheriffs respond to a majority of calls in Madras, especially major incidents and dangerous situations.
The council said they wanted to explore grants to hire additional officers.
In a meeting on April second, Jefferson County Sheriff Pollock suggested the city could use salary savings from unfilled police positions as a potential funding source for a drug enforcement program. Pollock noted that recruitment remains a challenge for all law enforcement agencies.
This comes amid a search for a new chief of police after the firing of former chief Tim Plummer in July 2025