Can a county agency take away earned vacation time?

I work for a county agency. I had earned 441 hours of vacation under a previous sheriff, he allowed us to accumulate extra vacation. By state statute I can only carry 360 hours.

Early this year we (deputies) were given notices to use our vacation or lose it, by the new sheriff. Several times I put in for vacation, and it was denied. August 1 of this year the sheriff's office took 81 hours of my vacation and I was not paid or compensated in any way for it.

Is this legal? Do we have any recourse to get paid or have our vacation time returned? Also since August 1 of this year, I am not earning vacation, unless I use vacation. I have not earned vacation time in a few months.

The union will not get involved and will not help in any way! There was never an annoucement or policy change given.