ST. JOSEPH — Gas prices well above $4 a gallon aren’t just affecting everyday residents. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is feeling the squeeze and is putting in place some new policies to save money on gas.

“There is no way we’re going to make it in our budget (for gas),” Sheriff Paul Bailey told Berrien County Commissioners Thursday.

The department budgeted for gas prices to be at $3 per gallon, and prices in the county are currently around $4.20 a gallon.

Bailey is telling his officers to drive slowly while on patrol and to turn off the vehicles whenever possible.

The sheriff is also implementing a policy in which all sheriff’s department personnel who have a take-home vehicle must pay $40 out of their paychecks per pay period to help cover gas costs. They also have the option to keep their vehicles at the station rather than taking them home.

“We’re trying any way to bring some dollars back,” Bailey said.

Sixteen of the 20 officers who have take-home vehicles — mostly detectives and drug unit officers — will continue to take home their vehicles and pay the $40.

Bailey hasn’t calculated how much money the measure will save but he will be tracking the numbers.

The sheriff’s department is also facing increased costs due to an increase in inmates needing medical treatment. Bailey said there have been about 177 hours in employee overtime just to take inmates to the hospital this year.

The budget for overtime at the jail is $196,000 this year, and the department has already drained $95,000.

“We have some major medical issues at the jail because of drug addictions and alcohol abuse,” Bailey said. “It drives our costs up.”