By RODNEY HART

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Two-man patrols. Shutting off vehicles. Walking the beat.

Area sheriff's departments are trying to come up with ways to combat the high cost of fuel, with many using other line items from budgets to make sure vehicles are gassed up.

For Hancock County deputies, it means more walking and less sitting in a stopped squad car with the engine idling. It's a way to keep fuel costs down as gas crept over the $4 a gallon price earlier this summer and still stand at $3.70 a gallon.

"We've instituted more two-man patrols if we can, and when the guys get to small community, we ask them to shut off the car and patrol on foot," Hancock County Sheriff John Jefferson said. "They still have to stay within reasonable distance of the car in case they get called out on an emergency ... I don't think the level of service has dropped one bit."

Hancock County budgets about $3,500 a month for gas and vehicle maintenance. Jefferson says this year he's about $5,000 over budget to maintain and keep gas in his 10 department vehicles.

But he's kept a close eye on other line item budget areas and kept Hancock County Board members aware of how rising fuel costs have hit his department. Overall, Jefferson says he is operating below budget this fiscal year.

"We still have to answer calls and patrol," he said. "People still expect and want us to respond."

Pike County Sheriff Paul Petty says fuel costs have basically doubled for his department the past two years. Gas previously was $2,500 to $3,000 a month for 14 department vehicles, but has pushed the $5,000 range in recent months.

How much gas the department uses "many times isn't up to us, it up to the type of evening we are having and the calls we are responding to," he said.

Petty says he'll borrow from other line items in his budget to make ends meet, with approval from the Pike County Board.

"If we get to the point where we have to start making cuts, well, if you have a budget like ours, you'll have to start cutting personnel," he said.

Adams County Sheriff Brent Fischer says his department will probably exceed his $120,000 gas and oil budget this year. But it's not as bad as LaSalle County, where Sheriff Tom Templeton said he's asked his deputies to turn off the air conditioning in their patrol cars. Fulton County Sheriff Jeff Standard says he may have to eliminate roving patrols by the end of the year.

"It hasn't been too bad, really," Fischer said. "We're running behind and we'll probably go over (budget), but it's not as bad as what some jurisdictions are going through. A lot of places are really hurting."

In June, Adams County Sheriff's Department spent $13,149 to keep gas and oil in its 30 vehicles. That's about $2,000 more than in June 2007.

"We're in the world now where we have to find ways to do more with less," Fischer said.

Fischer has also told deputies to turn cars off when stopped for extended periods of time, and says he is thinking about several other ideas to save gas.

"We are still doing everything we can within our abilities to be responsible to the folks in the county," Fischer said. "We still have to answer calls and get to people who need help."

Marion County (Mo.) Sheriff's Capt. Jimmy Shinn says fuel costs have basically doubled for the department's 13-vehicle fleet, from about $1,500 a month to $3,000. Shinn says deputies on traffic patrol have been directed to park on a major road or highway for at least 15 minutes each hour, turn the vehicles off and observe traffic.

"We don't like to do that, and we want to be as mobile as possible," Shinn said. "But we have to be realistic."

Shinn says the tactic has "really worked well" to keep fuel costs down, and hasn't affected level of service.

High gas prices means Marion County will likely not be able to buy equipment and uniforms so it stays within budget, Shinn said.

"You just have to look at other line items and wherever you haven't spent the money, that's where you take it from," he said.

-- rhart@whig.com/221-3370