Today, El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal presented to the Board of County Commissioners and the citizens of El Paso County on the importance and impact of the 1A Public Safety Fund, emphasizing how the investment continues to strengthen the safety and security for those who call the Pikes Peak region home.
Sheriff Roybal underscored the Public Safety Fund’s role as a dedicated resource for law enforcement operations, jail management, and emergency response, including wildland fire mitigation. Since its approval, the fund has enabled the Sheriff’s Office to address rising calls for service, manage increasing demands for our jail population, and respond swiftly to increased wildland fire activity.
Meeting Statutory Responsibilities
The Sheriff’s Office carries out a wide range of statutory duties, including custodian of the jail, fire warden responsibilities, transportation of prisoners, execution of writs, preservation of the peace, issuance of concealed handgun permits, and search and rescue missions. Sheriff Roybal emphasized during his presentation, fulfilling these mandates requires reliable funding and resources.
Key Investments in Public Safety
The 1A Public Safety Fund directly supports:
- Salary and benefits for nearly 200 employees.
- Body-worn cameras, radios, and specialized laptops for deputies.
- Ammunition, ballistic shields, and patrol vehicles with specialized equipment.
- Technology upgrades and fuel for the entire Sheriff’s Office fleet.
- Improvements to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Regional Communications Center.
- Extradition costs, pretrial services, and equipment/outfitting of new deputies.
- Wildland firefighting gear, protective uniforms, and personnel costs.
Enhancing Community Protection
Sheriff Roybal highlighted several outcomes from the fund:
- Enhanced Response Capability – Ensuring deputies and fire response teams meet rising service demands.
- Safe and Secure Detention Operations – Managing the average daily jail population safely for staff, incarcerated citizens, and the community.
- Rapid Wildland Fire Response – Investments in personnel, training, and equipment for faster and more effective wildfire mitigation.
- Sustaining Public Safety – Framing the Public Safety Fund not as an expense, but as an investment in keeping the community safe, prepared, and supported.
One of the most significant projects highlighted in today’s presentation was the East Substation, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2026. This $16 million investment enhances the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to hold offenders accountable and expand service capacity response to a 35% population growth in the Pikes Peak region over the past 20 years.
“The Public Safety Fund is more than dollars and cents—it is the backbone of our ability to protect this community,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “From deputies on patrol in our neighborhoods to detention operations, from our Regional Communications Center to wildfire response, these resources give us the tools to meet today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow.
“We remain committed to being good stewards of these funds, ensuring every dollar is used deliberately to deliver lasting safety for our citizens. A safer El Paso County truly makes for a stronger El Paso County.”