Fifteen employees with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office have tested positive or shown symptoms of COVID-19 and Sheriff Mark Schrader says that he his using manpower from the rest of his department to cover the shortages in workers.

Last week the sheriff, patrol deputies, investigators and narcotics agents all took turns manning the jail to take up the slack.  Sheriff Schrader, who started his career under Sheriff Ralph Kellett as a jailer, said that it had been quite a few years since he was working overnight in the jail.

The sheriff says that so far, he has not had to call in any outside help.  Schrader said that neighboring law enforcement agencies have offered help if necessary.

The sheriff said, “Our deputies and employees have been 100% supportive of filling in those positions and I am extremely proud of the way they have all stepped up to help.”