Dona Ana Sheriff’s Office says delay in equipment is costly to taxpayers

The war of words continues in Dona Ana County. The Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office says it’s being blocked by the county manager from properly equipping new patrol units.

A spokeswoman tells ABC-7 when the sheriff’s office asked for 29 new tahoes, they hadn’t yet chosen a computer system for them. Now, they want to ask commissioners for the additional funds at their next meeting.

“We’re doing everything we can to overcome years of neglect of this department,” Executive Assistant Dennis Montoya said.

Montoya says the sheriff’s office is frustrated that their request for on-board computers will more then likely be pushed to February.

“We can’t wait that long because the vehicles will be delivered and then we will have a bunch of downtime and the residents of Dona Ana county are going to lose out on law enforcement services they paid for with their own tax dollars,” Montoya said.

For about $350,000 the sheriff’s office says they’ll be able to put this technology in about 29 different units. Deputies tell ABC-7 using it, is like their own home office.

The sheriff’s office says the county has already paid for the new vehicles. They say they can’t put the old equipment into new units because the technology is also old and wouldn’t be cost effective. Chairman Billy Garrett tells ABC-7 County Manager Julia Brown needs to be able to evaluate options.

“The county manager felt that item was not ready for consideration by the commission. It’s the responsibility of the manager to make sure items brought before us for action have been properly vetted that all the facts have been gathered,” Garrett said. “We need to make sure that we know where the money’s going to come from because this is a new expense as I understand it.”

Montoya said he was planning to speak with Brown on Wednesday to try and work something out. ABC-7 was unable to reach Brown for comment.