Sheriff Rahr says it's the union, their hands are tied.
Unions can get in the way of taking care of problems like this, at the expense of their own rank and file who need might legitimate union representation ar some point. But they are already hired by the county before they are union members. I have mixed feelings (for lack of a better word)about these unions and view them as a necessary evil. I pay dues to my local union which is affiliated with IUPA under the AFL-CIO. I try not to think about it 8>)
That is probably the immediate problem but there are also the federal affirmative action rules and EEO guidelines.