CALHOUN COUNTY AND VILLAGE of Hardin sign agreement for full-time Sheriff’s Deputy

By Editor | July 7, 2026 |

By Steven Spencer

Calhoun County and the Village of Hardin signed an intergovernmental agreement last week, which will add a full-time deputy to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Per the agreement, the Village of Hardin will assist with the employment of the Sheriff’s Office by covering the salary of a full-time deputy.
The topic originally came up in 2024 due to the call volume the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received within the village. However, at that time the county and village were unable to come to an agreement.
Earlier this year, Sheriff Zach Hardin requested that the matter be revisited and approached the Calhoun Commissioners and Hardin Trustees and brought the subject up at the April village board meeting.
“My hope is to mediate an agreement that will benefit the Village of Hardin, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and provide all of us with a safer community,” Sheriff Hardin told the Hardin board in April.
Sheriff Hardin explained that the loss of the village’s department left the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office as the only law enforcement agency in the county, leading to a much larger call volume while investigations become drastically more complicated and exhaustive, and mandated trainings increase.
He said he simply needs help with the salary, and would not request additional expenses like vehicle or equipment upkeep. The salary would be approximately $68,000 a year at $32.75 an hour,
with a dollar or so increase each year.
“I would ask the Village of Hardin to assist our agency by the addition of an additional deputy whose salary will be paid for by the village. In return, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office would provide at least 40 hours of police coverage within the Village of Hardin every week,” Sheriff Hardin said. “I’m simply asking for assistance in paying for the addition of a deputy for the purpose of policing the Village of Hardin.”
The village was very receptive to the idea when it was brought up in April and asked about support enforcing ordinances as well as a monthly report at board meetings.
“I do think it’s a good thing,” Mayor Dave Hurley said in April. From my standpoint, I would love it. One of the things you’ll notice about Hardin, if you go by all the restaurants, things are booming. Things seem much better than they did a year ago, two years ago. More and more people coming through town, we need more and more support and protection. I’m personally for it.”
Sheriff Hardin also shared some of the year-to-date numbers that the Sheriff’s Office has seen regarding calls in the Village of Hardin, and noted that based on state recommendations and averages, the sheriff’s office is anywhere from two or four officers below what is recommended based on population.
During the April meeting, Sheriff Hardin said that at the time his office has responded to 1,092 incidents in the county so far this year, with 650 being in Hardin. Of the 237 traffic stops made, 142 were in Hardin; 73 of the 132 arrests were made in Hardin and 14 of the 19 felonies were in Hardin. In 2025, approximately 2000 of 3796 incidents were in Hardin.
Sheriff Hardin said the addition of a full-time deputy would not only provide additional coverage, but allow better scheduling to ensure officer safety.
“I’m here to do what’s going to benefit everybody the most,” Sheriff Hardin said. “I want everybody to have a quick and safe police response.”