Jim Wells County Jail Promotes Officers, Seeks Relief for Staffing Shortages

Jim Wells County law enforcement marked a personnel shift on December 9 when Lieutenant Joshua Hawks, Sergeant Bianca Garcia and Sergeant Olivia Salas were promoted at a ceremony at the county jail. The elevations come amid ongoing staffing shortfalls that have required temporary reassignments and prompted officials to intensify recruitment and retention measures.

Lieutenant Joshua Hawks is an Alice native who had been with the jail for 11 months prior to his promotion. He said he joined corrections to help those who enter the jail and serve the community. Sergeant Bianca Garcia had been with the department for more than two years before her promotion, and she said she hopes to make a difference in inmates' lives. Sergeant Olivia Salas was also recognized in the ceremony as part of the department's push to strengthen internal leadership.

Sheriff Joseph Guy Baker outlined steps the county is taking to stabilize staffing. For several months deputies who would normally be in patrol training have been temporarily assigned to the jail. The sheriff described a career pathway program that sponsors correctional officers who want to attend the police academy, and said promoting from within is one step officials hope will boost morale and encourage applications.

The immediate local impact has been practical and operational. Temporarily redirecting patrol trainees to jail duties has stretched the sheriff's training calendar and reduced the number of officers entering patrol at expected intervals. County officials hope that internal promotions and the academy sponsorship program will create clearer advancement options, making correctional roles more attractive and helping retain personnel who might otherwise leave for other agencies or positions.

For Jim Wells County residents the changes aim to preserve public safety and maintain consistent supervision inside the jail while allowing patrol units to return to their standard training and deployment. The promotions signal a commitment to professional development within the department, and county leaders say more recruitment and retention measures will continue as officials work to restore staffing levels and reduce the need for temporary reassignments.