County police respond to over 5,300 calls in 2013

Here is a breakdown of the statistics:

361 total vehicle crashes - which is broken down as 45 personal injury crashes, 3 fatal crashes, 204 deer crashes with 5 of those involving injury.
3,051 civil process papers served
37 Battery cases investigated, including 10 Domestic Battery
7 Sex Crimes against children
33 Burglaries
114 Thefts
70 Drug Investigations
11 Vehicles Stolen
19 arrested for driving without an operator’s license
25 Impaired Drivers arrested
Average inmate population 81
1,268 individuals booked into the jail
Monies collected from housing Starke County and D.O.C. inmates $144,944
306 inmate transports
300 inmate court appearances
$51,201.02 collected from Work Release inmates
Commissary account monies collected $77,014.79
1,095 meals cooked
6,600 pieces of inmate mail
1,003 inmate visitors
10 inmates placed on Suicide Watch
43 inmates monitored for medical conditions
12 educational courses offered at the jail to improve quality of life

The sheriff's department staff includes: chief deputy, patrol sergeant, 2 investigators, 8 patrol deputies, 16 full-time correctional officers (including a jail commander, assistant. jail commander, 1 shift sergeant, 2 Work Release coordinators, 11 correctional officers), 5 part-time correctional officers, 1 head cook, 2 part-time cooks, 11 9-1-1 emergency medical dispatchers, including 1 supervisor, and the sheriff matron.

"We continue to evaluate and improve our services to provide our citizens with the best service possible," said Gayer. "I consider myself a proactive person, in that I’m not going to wait for an incident to happen and then respond with whatever resources I have to handle the emergency. I plan ahead, not just for my tenure in office, but for the sheriffs of the future."

Gayer acknowledges he's often criticized and misunderstood for some of his actions. "However when it comes to public safety I will not back down on my oath or commitment to provide a highly trained, equipped, and professional law enforcement agency to be available to respond to any situation, whether it's tornado damage, snow blizzards, armed barricaded individuals, bank robberies, or flooding. The sheriff’s office has the ability to do it all."