Thursday, October 29, 2009

(Garden City)--The Finney County Sheriff's Department is down three men after they accepted jobs as security guards for Boot Hill Casino.

"Their last days have already come and gone," says Finney County Sheriff, Kevin Bascue. "I guess the timing could have been a little bit better."

Already with one position open, the department is now scrambling to fill holes.

"We will replace a couple of the positions that left," says Bascue, "but due to the economy, the county has been in a hiring freeze situation."

Now, two of the four open spots will stay that way. Both are coming from the gang unit, leaving it with only two deputies. That's half of what it once was.

Sheriff Bascue says it's not uncommon for his deputies to leave for bigger opportunities.

"That's just how it is in our line of work. We're still considered a small department, so for some folks it's a training ground to move on to bigger and better things."

Although he's been put into a difficult situation, don't expect Bascue or any of his deputies to have any hard feelings.

"These three deputies were good deputies. We're going to miss them. We wish them well. They had a desire to work for a state agency, and they got that opportunity."

Boot Hill Casino on the west edge of Dodge City is scheduled to open December 15th.