Brooke County prosecutor expresses concern over office staffing, humane officer position

Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden requested that county commissioners hire an additional full-time assistant prosecutor to handle increasing caseloads and address critical policy issues. She criticized the current humane officer's operating procedures as inefficient, particularly pointing out the lack of a quarantine policy for seized animals. Cowden highlighted that with only one full-time assistant prosecutor managing abuse and neglect cases and a part-time assistant focused on magistrate court, she faced an overwhelming workload. She also questioned the process of appointing the new humane officer, suggesting it lacked transparency. Commissioner Stacey Wise noted that the sheriff has the authority to appoint the humane officer under state law.

Commissioner Tom Diserio expressed appreciation for Cowden's work but stressed the importance of ensuring that funding is available before hiring new staff. The commissioners opted to table Cowden's proposals for further examination. Cowden represented the concerns of Brooke County residents, emphasizing the need for effective legal operations.