Issues

Too many politicians hide behind big promises without concrete, strategic plans for action. I am not a politician; I am a law enforcement professional. I want our campaign to be transparent, just the Sheriff's office will be under my administration. Here is serious detail about how we will approach:

1.) More Guns on the Street;
2.) Fiscal Transparency & Responsibility; and
3.) Integrity First.

Also check out our "Frequently Asked Questions."

 

“More Guns on the Street”

   • Deputies on the Street: Increase Street Patrols 20% over the first 18 months
   • Lead the way in Colorado for “Freedom to Carry” legislation (2nd Amendment Rights)

  • Over the first 18 months, reorganize/reprioritize personnel in the Law Enforcement Bureau to help reduce emergency response times and increase cover for Street Patrol Deputies with a 20% increase of Deputies on Street Patrol.
    • Other responsibilities are extremely important, but currently there are 1,600 square miles of unincorporated county where the Sheriff’s Deputies are the first responders to emergencies and 911 calls and 6-8 Deputies per shift is not enough; for the safety of the Deputies and the citizens, we must focus on getting more deputies on the street without asking for a tax increase.
  • Shift some senior management positions held by sworn personnel to civilian positions and/or combine them under the duties of other sworn personnel.
    • Analyze sworn management positions in Support Services Bureau to shift non law-enforcement jobs to civilian positions (over a period of time) while also eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy.
    • Temporarily shift the position of Under-Sheriff to be vacant (responsibilities would be shared among senior command staff)
    • Public Information Office (currently staffed by a Lieutenant and a Deputy, would be transitioned to a single civilian position).
  • As Deputies rotate out of the jail, replace some positions with civilians using the current system that includes Detention Specialists (and other civilian, County employee positions).
    • Civilians will be County employees, not contractors or a privatized jail system.
    • Detention Specialists and other civilian county employees will undergo more extensive training in synchronous alignment with the training we currently provide sworn personnel in a jail environment to ensure continued professionalism and safety.
    • Sworn personnel (Deputies, etc.) will continue to have a strong presence in the jail.
    • Nothing will be done that jeopardizes ACA accreditation; we can find smart ways to decrease overhead costs and still maintain the standards of excellence that we currently hold.
    • Civilians (County employees) can represent a 20-40% savings per person; that savings will – over time – enable the Sheriff’s department to assign more Deputies to the Law Enforcement Bureau and specifically, Street Patrol.
  • Over the first 18 months, reorganize personnel throughout the Sheriff’s Office (such as in Support Services) so that, over time, more sworn personnel are assigned to the Law Enforcement Bureau with some civilians assuming responsibility for non law-enforcement jobs.

 

   • As Sheriff, I will fight to pass “Freedom to Carry” legislation.

  • Arizona recently passed comprehensive legislation making it legal for law-abiding citizens to carry concealed without a “concealed carry” permit and we need someone to lead the charge for similar Legislation in Colorado through 2010, 2011, and beyond.
     
  • As a 35-year law enforcement veteran and a Police Chief here in El Paso County, I have a unique understanding and passion for making sure we cherish the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Why? I have personally witnessed the preservation of justice and life because of law-abiding citizens who chose to carry concealed. I have also carried concealed (on duty and off) for over 35 years.
    • Partner with legislators and activists to author a “Freedom To Carry” bill modeled after Arizona’s new state statute and then lead the fight to get the legislation passed.
    • Create new programs and add to existing programs to provide citizens with training and knowledge about safe, effective conceal carry.
    • Our initiatives here in El Paso County will be the model for a positive and productive “freedom to carry” partnership between law enforcement and the community at large throughout Colorado.
    • Under our current laws, I will never report conceal carry permits to CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation) or to any agency for that matter. I will also always recommend to the D.A. that, per his lawful discretion, any citizen who is charged with a violation of the current conceal carry law, have that charge dismissed. Bottom line? As a willing signer of the “Oathkeepers.org” pledge I will always uphold the Constitution of the United States over any other civil authority.

I am proud of my responses to Dudley Brown and the Rocky Mountain Gun Owner’s “2010 Sheriff Candidate Survey.” Click here to see how I answered their questions. RMGO has been a long-time advocate for the rights of Gun Owners in Colorado. I am proud to stand alongside this group with the common goal of passing legislation that ensures the Constitutional rights of every citizen!

 

Fiscal Transparency & Responsibility


  • I will never ask for a tax increase.
    (Only citizens should be behind new taxes, not the folks in charge of spending the money!)
  • Online “check registry” for transparent review of all categories of expenditure.
  • Public meetings every 90 days to review budget and Sheriff’s Office priorities.
  • Cut waste by combining duplicated services
    (e.g. training academies, fleet maintenance, and dispatch centers).

  • The Sheriff’s office can and will be the model of transparency throughout El Paso County government. Just to see a section of the Sheriff’s budget requires a formal “CORA” request (Colorado Open Records Act). You shouldn’t have to be a lawyer or jump through hoops to see how tax dollars are being spent. And responsibility is critical too; we are in tough economic times and every penny matters.
     
  • 1.) Never asking for a tax increase;
    2.) Publishing our budget online;
    3.) Holding public meetings is relatively straight forward.
    4.) "Combining duplicated services” is a huge challenge. BUT...
    • The citizens of El Paso County deserve the most efficient local government possible;
    • Without raising taxes;
    • While maintaining the highest of professional standards.
    • It’s not enough to say “it can’t be done” – we must endeavor to take these challenges head on and solve the tough problems.
       
  • Whether it is combined training environments or working on creative ways to stretch every tax dollar, cooperation with other law enforcement professionals is critical. I have personally contacted every Police Chief in El Paso County, the head of the Marshal’s office, and virtually every other law enforcement type agency that has a presence in El Paso County including CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation), FBI, DEA, and others. I have also contacted over 80 current members of the Sheriff’s and Colorado Springs Police Department, from rookie Deputies to 20-year veterans, and have worked hard to earn their trust, their vote, and to understand the Sheriff’s department “from the inside out.”
     
  • I’ve also spoken personally with the one or more of the leadership for the Sheriff’s and the Colorado Springs Police Academies. Critically, most of them agree that my goal to examine and then tackle the issue of creating a coordinated, joint Academy system is an important step, both from a fiscal and practical perspective.
     
  • It’s not enough to make promises; I have a tentative plan, subject to enhancement as we move forward, on precisely how we can begin tackling the goal of one regional training academy.

    • Create a “Joint Training Academy” task force with members of the Sheriff’s office and every other law enforcement stakeholder in the El Paso County region.
    • Initiate a 90-day evaluation starting the day I am sworn into office to identify key issues and challenges; findings to be presented in public forum.
    • Following the evaluation, as soon as feasible initiate a 180-day pilot program to test practicability and to identify unforeseen challenges; findings to be presented in public forum.
    • Following the 180-day pilot program, present a comprehensive report to the law enforcement agency stakeholders and a recommendation for future plans.
       
  • My plan for looking at other services where there is some overlap in technology, physical space, bureaucracy, and management (such as Dispatch Centers and Fleet Maintenance) will follow a similar protocol as with the training academies (see the steps above). We will analyze the issues, and then chart a course for tackling each problem with an innovative solution. It’s not enough to say it can’t be done or that it’s already been determined to be impractical; we must find a way to do more with less and this team has a plan to do just that.

 

F.A.Q.   

• As we hear about concerns, from within the Sheriff’s office and the community, we'll answer them here.

Q. Will the traditional annual uniform allowance be taken away? 

A.  Short answer is “No.”  Comprehensive answer is that, in order to get as many deputies on the street solving crimes and keeping people safe, over the course of the next four years, every option is on the table. Uniform appearance is important and will not be compromised. Will the policy possibly shift to ensure that the uniform allowance is high enough? To ensure that that the allowance is being used only for uniforms? Those are options on the table. If we are transparent with the taxpayers and totally honest, then they can see what we are getting paid and they can see exactly how we are spending their money. Building that trust is imperative and we must have transparency throughout the office. 

 

Q.  Are the "take home" vehicle privileges going to be taken away? 

A.  I am a strong believer in take-home vehicles, particularly for Law Enforcement Bureau Deputies and management. In the near-term, we will prioritize getting more Deputies into the Law Enforcement side of things over “take-home” privileges, but I am absolutely committed to expanding this program, as I believe it’s an important aspect of community involvement and integration.

 

Q.  Won’t adding 20% more deputies to Street Patrol add more costs than just the Deputies? What about cars? Gas? Dispatchers? Etc? 

A.  The “20% more Deputies over the first 18 months” is not a number that was pulled from a hat! After extensive consultation with former and current members of the Sheriff’s office, and as a Chief who works daily with Deputies in the County, we are confident that we can handle this increase using the fleet, dispatchers, and budget we currently have, without going to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and requesting any additional funds. It will not necessarily be “easy,” but it is possible, and we have a real plan to make it happen. As I have mentioned before, that’s not the empty promise of a polished politician, it’s the promise of a 35-year law enforcement veteran who understand the unique challenges that face large law enforcement and detention operations.

 

Q.  Will you be radically restructuring management? Immediately firing some senior personnel? 

A.  With the exception of 2-3 positions, on day one, nothing will immediately change. Over the first 18 months, I will personally assess and work closely with the management team. I believe in a “team” approach to solving problems and everyone who wants to join me as we face the significant challenges of doing more with less and incorporating a highly transparent financial system will be welcome to stay; everyone else will be asked to leave. I DO think there is an opportunity for transitioning to a more lean management team as we focus on getting more Deputies out from behind desks and onto the street; that’s a transition that will take time.

 

Q. Will your religious beliefs impact how you manage the Sheriff’s Office? 

A.  “Integrity” is one of my lifelong commitments and is something that has guided my decisions, professionally and personally, since the first day I put on a uniform 35 years ago. I believe that my oath to uphold the Constitution when I was in the Coast Guard many years ago, and my current oath to “serve and protect” as a lawman in the state of Colorado, is an oath to my Creator and my God; I couldn’t take those responsibilities more seriously. Does my commitment to Truth and Integrity impact how I will manage the Sheriff’s office? Yes. Does that mean that I judge people or the laws we uphold based on some spiritual measurement? Absolutely not; I will hire the best people for the job and uphold the law without regard for race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

Q. Will I be firing Deputies from the jail?

 A. "No". I will be transitioning several deputy positions to civilian positions within the jail as deputies retire and resign.