LAKE COUNTY — Sheriff Frank Rivero decided Friday morning in a command staff meeting that previously approved vacations for correctional officers would be cancelled for the month of July.
Rivero said the vacations were approved prior by former Sheriff Rod Mitchell and his staff.
“The vacations will be moved to the soonest possible date,” Rivero said. “Next month we have a similar situation to this month.”
Rivero said he has not been asked to reconsider any vacation requests and to his knowledge the people who will be impacted did not have vacation plans that would cause them any financial hardships by cancelling.
Rivero said the reason for the action was based on minimum staffing levels and the need to stay within budget. He said the problems arose because “it”s the aftermath of the previous administration.” He said these vacations should not have been approved.
A total of 10 days of vacation time was rescinded. Nine of 11 weeks were approved.
Vacation is based on seniority, however Rivero was unable to establish if the time approved as opposed to the time denied was granted to those with seniority.
