ST. JOHNSBURY — Caledonia County Sheriff Brandon Thrailkill said existing staffing commitments mean his department does not have personnel available to help patrol St. Johnsbury.

Thrailkill wrote to Town Manager Chad Whitehead that the department needed to decline the town’s offer to hire sheriff’s deputies to supplement St. Johnsbury Police Department patrols downtown.

The sheriff said the decision was based on the department’s existing obligations. Thrailkill said he considered the request and met with his staff to discuss it, but ultimately determined deputies could not take on the additional patrol work because they are already committed elsewhere.