The Batavia Township board of trustees approved a new contract to hire a second full-time deputy to patrol the township during their Jan. 9 meeting.
The new deputy began work with the township on Jan. 3, bringing the number of deputies who patrol in Batavia Township only to two.
“The trustees approved a new three-year contract with the sheriff’s department,” said Batavia Township Administrator Rex Parsons. “Deputy Billy Crouch has been assigned to the township. The trustees interviewed him at length and followed the recommendation of the sheriff to hire him. The trustees will review the contract at a later date to determine when and if another new deputy will be added.”
The funding to hire the second deputy will be generated from a tax levy approved by the voters in November of last year. Increasing population has strained law enforcement throughout the county, and with the larger population in the township, the need for increased patrols became necessary over the past year.