Office says “personnel losses” partly to blame

City Times Staff

The Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office has announced a reduction of in-person assistance at its front counter beginning Oct. 5.

According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the front counter of its records office will only be open to the public from 10 AM to 2 PM Monday- Friday until further notice.

The counter had previously been open during the entire regular work day and supplied records including accident reports, background checks and some DMV services, including vehicle registration renewal.

Chief Deputy Dan Kontos said in an email the reduction was due to “recent personnel losses and critical new staff training…telephone calls and electronic correspondence will similarly be reduced depending on work load.”

“Requests for law enforcement actions and the corrections division will remain open 24 hours a day via the intercoms in the front lobby of the Law Enforcement Center,” Kontos said in the email, who added the department was working to return to normal hours “as soon as possible” and regretted any inconvenience the reduction caused.

A call to Kontos’ office for further comment was not immediately returned. More as we have it.