Three Forks area to get more law enforcement coverage under new deal

TOWNSEND, Wash. — Broadwater County Sheriff Mark W. Wood announced his office hired a resident deputy for southern Broadwater County and expanded coverage plans aimed at improving service across the county.

The new deputy is set to begin service on June 24. Sheriff Wood explained the hire became a priority after the retirement of Deputy Lewis and the medical retirement of Deputy Reynolds.

The sheriff’s office also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office for the Three Forks area. Wood said the agreement increases law enforcement coverage along the counties’ shared borders.

With deputies living in several parts of Broadwater County, Sheriff Wood said the setup is expected to cut response times and improve service countywide.

Another change involves a hybrid detention and deputy program. A detention officer will serve as a sworn deputy assigned to the detention center, giving the office another trained deputy without a major cost increase, the sheriff’s office said.

The program strives to help when deputies are injured, on leave or when vacancies happen.

The sheriff’s office is also finalizing a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation. Under that agreement, Wood said the hybrid deputy would work during the busy summer months and the bureau would cover that deputy’s salary.

“These efforts are just a few of the steps being taken by the Sheriff's Office to ensure the people of Broadwater County have the law enforcement coverage necessary to keep both our community and our deputies safe,” Wood said.