The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has assumed patrol duties in the City of Huron after local officials requested assistance due to staffing shortages in the police department.

Effective Thursday, deputies began patrolling the city around the clock to respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service. A sheriff’s sergeant has also been assigned to handle administrative duties, the agency said.

Huron City Manager Virginia Peñaloza said the decision came after ongoing difficulties retaining officers, who often leave for cities with larger budgets.

“As a small city with a small budget, Huron is always losing officers to cities that have more resources,” Peñaloza said. “As a result of recent staff turnover, the City Manager, Chief of
Police and the Huron City Council made the decision to request assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.”

Sheriff John Zanoni accepted the city’s request. There is no timetable for how long the agreement will remain in place, authorities noted.

Residents who need law enforcement assistance can call sheriff’s dispatchers at (559) 600-3111, the Huron Police Department at (559) 945-2046, or dial 911 for emergencies.

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