El Paso County Sheriff’s Office asks for assessment amid budget and staffing challenges

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office asked the county for an independent, third-party consultant to assess EPCSO, it said Friday. The request comes after the county Commissioners Court discussed the sheriff's office use of overtime.

"We want to be clear that we have been sounding the alarm regarding budget and staffing challenges since this administration took over," EPCSO said in part in a statement. "An independent assessment will provide an unbiased evaluation of our needs and ensure that future decisions are based on a complete and accurate picture of the Sheriff’s Office."

The statement said current reports indicate staffing tables are full, but added the tables haven't been updated in several years.

"As our community continues to expand, so do the calls for service and operational demands placed on our deputies and detention officers," EPCSO said.

The sheriff's office said it's meeting state staffing requirements, but argued the standard doesn't "fully capture the scope of responsibilities" detention officers have. Such duties include inmate transportation, hospital runs, court coordination and others.

EPCSO said it's requested review should look at:

• Staffing levels
• Workload
• Overtime use
• Detention operations
• Specialized unit demands
• Resource allocation
• Equipment allcoation
• Assessments of motor pool
• Fleet services
• Facilities maintenance team
• Vehicle replacement plan
• Fleet condition and sustainability
• All EPCSO facilities

Meanwhile, El Paso County on behalf of the Commissioners Court and County Administration, it values and supports EPCSO employees.

The county said it needs clear data and information to look into requests. As part of the process, the county asked EPCSO to prioritize requests focusing on "statutorily required functions" like detention operations.

The county also requested information on how proposed resources will impact service levels and operation outcomes while it considers staffing allocations.

"This fiscal year is the first time that the jails do not have any detention officer vacancies resulting in a greater number of resources available than in recent years," the county said. "At the same time, we recognize concerns related to overtime and are seeking additional data to better understand and address its drivers, impacts, and any potential correlation to operational outcomes."

The sheriff's office said it will continue sharing data with the Commissioners Court to find solutions.