The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has hired a detective to oversee the county's animal cruelty cases.
Sheriff Mac McNeil says Detective Abigail Sasser will work on animal investigations for a consistent workflow.
McNeil hopes putting a specific person in charge of the cases rather than having them pass through multiple hands will help keep them on track.
"We want to make sure that the investigators are familiar with these individuals and the history of any cases prior," McNeil says.
After seeing a slight uptick in animal cruelty complaints in the area, McNeil says he decided to partner closely with animal control.
Sasser has worked with the sheriff's office as a deputy for some years, McNeil says. She was tapped for the role after expressing an interest in investigative work.
"Not only does she have a heart for animals, but she is also somebody who we felt would do a good job of course," McNeil says.
Sasser will have to undergo specialized training to decipher whether someone is acting out of malice or just needs help and guidance on how to properly care for their animals.
"I think a lot of times when you see the economy get a little rougher that's when things become less affordable and we see people can't take care of their animals like they should. That's one aspect of it, and the other aspect of it is the criminal aspect. I think the ones where people are just not going to take care of their animals," McNeil says.
McNeil says he wants residents to know the office is taking cases seriously and there are real consequences for those who break Florida law.
