Coronavirus Update from Sheriff Sickler

Implementing some changes in an effort to reduce some of the risks associated with COVID-19

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is implementing some changes in an effort to reduce some of the risks associated with the Coronavirus. While the nature of public safety jobs will never allow us to completely eliminate the risk, we want to reduce potential risk and do what we can to protect our employees and our citizens.

Currently, this situation is very fluid and as we learn more, things could end up to be more restrictive or we could return to doing business as usual, within a few weeks. Only time will tell. We ask for your understanding and cooperation. We want to remind everyone to be diligent with hand washing and using hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available.

Here are some of the precautionary steps we are taking.

Jail operations – Heightened screening during intake and using extra precautions to keep things sanitary in the facility will be the first order of business.

Civil Division operations – Effective immediately we will have a temporary hold on processing any new or renewing Concealed Handgun Licenses. This will be in effect only until March 23^rd. On March 23^rd the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Concealed Handgun Licensing Division is launching our online scheduling services for CHL applications and fingerprinting.

So, starting on the 23rd we will resume processing CHL renewals that do not require new photos or prints. New CHL applications can be submitted online. Any applicant needing to be photographed or finger printed will then be scheduled to come in for printing and photographs at a later date. See our website or our earlier Facebook posting on this new program for further details

Patrol deputies will certainly still respond to calls for service. However, we will encourage deputies to take precautions to reduce possible exposure to the virus.

We will continue to monitor the Coronavirus situation and its impact on our community. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is always committed to serving you with Character, Competence, Courage and Compassion.”