Michigan soaring gas prices forces sheriff to cut response to non-urgent calls, deputies work by phone

close

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for June 8

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

A sheriff’s department in Michigan cited soaring gas prices in an announcement Tuesday that it would be reducing its deputies’ responses to non-urgent calls for service. 

Isabella County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it "is feeling the pain at the pump as well." 

"We have exhausted what funds were budgeted for fuel with several months to go before the budget reset," Sheriff Michael Main said in a statement. 

"I have instructed the deputies to attempt to manage whatever calls are acceptable over the phone," he said. "This would be non-in-progress calls, non-life-threatening calls, calls that do not require evidence collection or documentation." 

CALIFORNIA ELECTION RESULTS: LA SHERIFF VILLANUEVA, WHO DEFIED DEFUNDERS, HEADS TO NOVEMBER RUN OFF 

This undated photo shows Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main.  (Isabella County Sheriff's Office)

"Deputies will continue to provide patrols to all areas of the county, they will respond to those calls that need to be managed in person," Main continued. "Any call that is in progress with active suspects will involve a response by the deputies. I want to assure the community that safety is our primary goal, and we will continue to respond to those types of calls." 

This file photo shows a customer removing the nozzle of a gas pump from his car after getting gas at a BP gas station in Romulus, Michigan.  (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Isabella County is located in central Michigan and includes the city of Mount Pleasant. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The American Automobile Association (AAA) said Wednesday that the average price of gas across Michigan is $5.21, representing a 51-cent increase from last week’s average of $4.70 per gallon.