San Diego County supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 25 to develop plans to address potential Sheriff’s Department staffing shortages. According to a joint statement from Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond, applications to the Sheriff’s Department have decreased 25 percent during the past year, and decreased 36 percent between 2018 and 2021. While the county has regional mutual aid agreements with other law enforcement agencies, there’s a concern that there may not be enough deputies available to serve communities in need, Anderson said. “It’s so important those deputies are there for us when we need them most,” Anderson said, adding he wants to get ahead of the issue. In a statement, Desmond said public safety is the No. 1 priority for government, and with violent crime on the rise, “it is imperative that San Diego County have the necessary public safety officers.” “These brave men and women have put themselves in harm’s …