About
HISTORY
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was created in 1861, when El Paso County was formed as one of the 17 counties in the new Colorado Territory. Sheriff R. Scott Kelley was appointed Sheriff-the first of 29 men to hold that title over the next 150+ years and laid the foundation for an Office that currently sets the national standard in providing the best possible service to the citizens. El Paso County is 2,130 square miles and has a population which exceeds 740K. Our 541 sworn and 313 professional staff employees are our greatest asset and ensure our mission is carried out each and every day.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Our law enforcement strategic plan sets the pillars which encapsulate the agency’s core values, identifies strategic objectives, and establishes the strategies and initiatives necessary to fulfill its mission. It enables agency leaders to align resources, personnel, and technology to address community needs and enhance public safety.
A well-developed strategic plan in law enforcement fosters collaboration and coordination among different units and agencies, promotes data-driven decision-making, and supports proactive crime prevention and community engagement efforts.
Moreover, it serves as a means of accountability and transparency, enabling agencies to track progress, evaluate performance, and communicate their objectives and achievements to the public they serve.
Honesty
Our personal and professional behavior will be a model for all to follow. Our actions will match our words. We will have the courage to stand up for our beliefs and do what is right.
Loyalty
We are loyal to our oath to protect the constitutional rights of those we serve by empowering our employees to make decisions that support the letter and spirit of the law.
Unity
We have a united commitment to serve our diverse community with fairness, dignity, and equality. We commit to excellence in all we do.
Mission
Our mission is to provide the citizens of El Paso County effective and efficient public safety services. We deliver them consistently with character, competence, and transparency.
Vision
Our vision is to ensure El Paso County remains the safest and most enjoyable place to live and visit in the state of Colorado. We are committed to holding the highest standard for public safety to achieve a county free of crime and public disorder.
Command Staff
Sheriff Joseph Roybal
Sheriff Joseph Roybal began his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in October 1995. His early assignments within the Detention Bureau included serving as a Deputy in the Security Division, member of the Special Response Team, and Court and Transport Deputy at the El Paso County Courthouse.
In April of 2010, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and had the privilege to serve in various capacities within the Office. As a Sergeant, he served as supervisor in the Security Division, Internal Affairs Investigator, Public Information Officer, Legislative Liaison, and oversaw the Concealed Handgun Program.
Sheriff Roybal was promoted to lieutenant in March of 2014, and returned to familiar assignments in Internal Affairs, the Court and Transport Section, and as the Special Response Team Leader. As lieutenant, he was given the opportunity to expand his experience and served the community as a member of Metro Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence (VNI). While serving in VNI, he was responsible for a Street Impact Team, a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Team, and Marijuana Regulatory efforts.
Sheriff Roybal takes pride in his service to the Pikes Peak region. He has served on various community boards and committees within the area. These include: El Cinco De Mayo Inc, Community Corrections Board, Healthy Engaged and Living Sober (H.E.A.L.S.) Court member, and School District 49 Woodmen Hills Elementary School Safety Committee. The Sheriff has volunteered as a youth football coach for decades and mentored young people identified as needing assistance and intervention.
Additionally, Sheriff Roybal is a proud graduate of the 278th session of the FBI National Academy.
Sheriff Roybal was born and raised in Colorado Springs and is a Palmer High School graduate. El Paso County is home to Sheriff Roybal, and he considers it the honor of his lifetime to serve as the 29th Sheriff of El Paso County.
Undersheriff Jeff Kramer
Undersheriff Jeff Kramer is a Colorado Springs native with deep roots in law enforcement—both his father and uncle retired from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Jeff began his own law enforcement journey in the U.S. Army, where he served as a Military Police Officer from 1992 to 1997.
He joined the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March 1997 and has proudly served at every rank within the agency. Throughout his career, he has embraced a wide range of assignments, including Patrol, Traffic, Investigations, K9, Crime Reduction Unit, SWAT, Professional Standards, and the Detention Bureau. He also served as the agency’s Public Information Officer during some of the most significant events in recent history, including the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires and the tragic murder of Colorado Department of Corrections Chief Tom Clements.
In more recent years, Jeff has held leadership roles as the Patrol Division Commander and Detention Bureau Chief. He was appointed Undersheriff at the start of Sheriff Roybal’s administration in 2023. Jeff is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, Session 268.
Outside of his professional life, Jeff is devoted to his wife, Julie Ann. Together, they share a blended family of six children and numerous grandchildren. In his personal time, Jeff enjoys the outdoors, values physical fitness, and treasures time spent with his family.
Chief Andrew James
Chief Andy James began his law enforcement career with the Colorado Springs Police Department in October 1985, where he served in Patrol, Metro VNI, Tactical Enforcement Unit and the Training Academy.
After being promoted to Sergeant, Andy held assignments in Patrol, Property Crimes Unit, Tactical Enforcement Unit, Metro Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence Unit, Municipal Security Division, and the Violent Crimes Unit. He spent the last 3 ½ years of his 30-year career overseeing the Homicide, Cold Case, and Missing Persons Units.
During his career at the Colorado Springs Police Department, Andy received numerous awards and letters of appreciation from the community he served. In 2014, he was the Hundred Club Award recipient. This award is given to one person from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Springs Fire Department, and the Colorado Springs Police Department who displays consistent, exceptional performance and service to the community. In October 2015, Andy retired from the Colorado Springs Police Department.
After a week of retirement in 2015, he returned to law enforcement as the Chief of Investigations for the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office where he fostered a close working relationship with all law enforcement agencies within the 4th Judicial District.
On November 6, 2018, Andy joined the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and was sworn in as the Commander of the Investigations Division. On August 3, 2020, Commander Andy James was appointed as the Acting Bureau Chief for the Law Enforcement Bureau, formally receiving the permanent appointment on February 8, 2021.
Chief James currently serves as a member of the El Paso-Teller County 9-1-1 Authority Board.
Chief Andrew Prehm
Chief Prehm began his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in 2002. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2007, Lieutenant in 2012, Commander in 2018 and Bureau Chief in 2023. He has been assigned to the Administrative, Law Enforcement and Detention Bureaus, holding many assignments including CJC Floor Security, Intake and Release, Court and Transport, Detentions Programs, Research and Planning, Background Investigations, Public Information, Administrative Services, Personnel, Emergency Services, Special Operations and Detention Operations. In 2016, Chief Prehm was selected as a Police Executive Fellow by the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he was assigned to the Executive Staff of the Assistant Director for the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters. He has held additional duties on the Mounted Unit, Special Response Team, Gang Net, and as a CVSA examiner.
Chief Prehm is passionate about the topic of juvenile justice, serving on the 4th Judicial District’s Juvenile Services Planning Committee and the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum Board.
Chief Prehm is an instructor for the International Association of Chiefs of Police – Leadership in Police Organizations program, as well as an academy academics instructor. He is an alumnus of the Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program. Chief Prehm holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Southern Colorado and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Northern Colorado.
Chief Scott Deno
Chief Scott Deno was raised in Colorado Springs and graduated from Rampart High School in 1996 and graduated from Colorado State University-Pueblo with his Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 2006. He is an alumnus of Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program.
Scott began his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in 2003. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2011, Lieutenant in 2016, Commander in 2021 and Bureau Chief in 2023. He has been assigned to the Detention and Administrative Management Bureaus holding many assignments including CJC Floor Security, Special Response Team Leader, Internal Affairs, Training Director, and Personnel Services.
Scott and his family have a passion for hockey, camping, and have led a community group through their church since 2017.
Commander Cy Gillespie
Commander Cy T. Gillespie began his law enforcement career in 1983 as a United States Army Military Police soldier at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Over the next twenty-one years he was posted to various peacetime and combat Military Police assignments in the Continental United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
In 2004 Cy joined the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy designee and, upon his academy graduation, was assigned to the maximum-security Metro Jail, the Criminal Justice Center, and ultimately the Patrol Division.
In 2010 Cy was promoted to sergeant and served as a patrol supervisor and internal affairs investigator. In 2015 Cy was promoted to lieutenant and returned to the El Paso County Jail as a shift commander in both the Detention Security Division and the Detention Operations Division. In 2016 Cy was designated as the commander of the 4th Judicial District’s Deadly Force Investigation Team as part of his assignment as the lieutenant of the Law Enforcement Bureau’s Investigations Division.
In 2018 Cy was promoted to commander and was assigned to lead the Detentions Security Division for 3 years and the Detention Support Division for 18 months. In March of 2023 Cy was assigned as the commander of the Law Enforcement Bureau’s Investigations Division.
Cy is a recipient of the Training Academy Leadership Award, the Sheriff’s Office Leadership Award, the Achievement Award, two Distinguished Service Medals, and the Medal of Valor. Cy is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session # 283.
Cy and his family enjoy living in the Colorado mountains.
Commander Mitch Mihalko
Commander Mitch Mihalko joined the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) in 2003. He has served in all three functional bureaus, being assigned to criminal investigations, patrol operations, detentions security, background investigations, community affairs, and administrative support. During his tenure, he was an operational member of the Special Response Team, supervisory member of the EPSO Honor Guard, Academy Academics Instructor, and Academy Skills Instructor.
Commander Mihalko has served in a variety of leadership roles within the organization. As a sergeant, he supervised patrol, criminal investigations, and community outreach teams. As a lieutenant, he led successful patrol teams with a focus on the reduction of street crime and later served as the Violent Crimes lieutenant overseeing major case investigations for EPSO. As a senior leader, he has held command of the Investigations, Patrol, and Administrative Support divisions.
During his career, he has received numerous awards, commendations, and letters of appreciation to include being honored as an award recipient from the Hundred Club of Colorado Springs.
Commander Mihalko holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Services Administration along with degrees in Criminal Justice and Communications disciplines. He is a graduate of 17th Session of the Department of Homeland Security Leadership Academy, The Center for Creative Leadership - Community Leadership Program, IACP Leadership in Police Organizations, and numerous FEMA Professional Development courses. He has lived in the Pikes Peak area since 1991 and has raised his family within our beautiful community.
Commander David Manzanilla
Commander David Manzanilla is a native of Caracas, Venezuela, but moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico when he was a toddler. David graduated from a high school specialized in music and left Puerto Rico when he joined the Army in 2003. David served overseas as an infantryman, before his unit was relocated to Fort Carson, Colorado in 2005. Moreover, David continued his military career in the Army Reserves while assigned to a training unit in Denver, Colorado.
In 2007 David was hired by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy designee and upon his academy graduation, was assigned to the El Paso County Jail, where he served in the Detentions Security Division and in the Detentions Operations Divisions. In 2009, David was transferred to the Patrol Division and eventually was selected to move over to the Colorado Springs Police Department Metro Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division. In 2016 David was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as a patrol supervisor until being selected to go back to the Metro Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division to run a Narcotics Impact Street Team.
In 2019 David was selected for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant and returned to the Patrol Division as a shift commander. In 2020 David was chosen to lead the Technical Investigations section of the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division. In this capacity, David also served concurrently as one of two 4th Judicial District’s Deadly Force Investigation Team Commanders for the Sheriff’s Office. In 2021 David was promoted to the rank of Commander.
Commander Eric Carnell
Commander Eric Carnell was raised in McDonough, Georgia and graduated from Henry County Senior High School in 1990. After serving in the US Army for 6 years, Eric Carnell began his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. He earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and applied it toward a rewarding career in the Detention and Administrative Bureaus.
His infectious personality and passion for building relationships has assisted him during his assignments in Detention Security, Intake Services, Court Services, and Training. He has the distinct pleasure of being a member of the Special Response Team, an Active Shooter, Riot Control and Academy Instructor.
As a Sergeant and Lieutenant, he has enthusiastically coached, mentored and inspired countless team members, citizens and inmates alike. As an ordained minister and Pastor, he remains committed to remaining physically, mentally and spiritually grounded. He remains steadfast in ensuring those he encounter, does the same.
Commander Jake Abendschan
Commander Jake Abendschan is a native of El Paso County and a graduate of Falcon High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from CU Boulder in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance and a Master of Public Administration from UCCS. Before coming to the Sheriff’s Office, he worked in portfolio quality analysis and regulatory compliance for an international bank.
Jake joined the Office in February 2002. He has served in all three bureaus, working in Floor Security, Intake and Release, Research and Planning, Patrol, Investigations, and Training. Jake has been a member of SRT, SWAT, BATTLE, the Employee Activity Committee, and a Field Training Officer. He spent most of his career as a lead instructor in the arrest control program and serves on the Colorado POST Arrest Control Subject Matter Expert Committee. He has also served members of the Office as President of the local Fraternal Order of Police lodge. During his career, Jake has received two Meritorious Service Awards, two Achievement Awards, a Purple Heart, and a Medal of Valor.
Commander Bud Perry
Commander Bud Perry was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. After graduating high school, he was a Florence Gopher, he began working for the Arizona of Department of Corrections where stayed for over 16 years, promoting to the rank of lieutenant. He began his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in April of 1996 and has worked in the Detention Bureau and the Administrative Bureau. In the Detention Bureau, he has been assigned positions in the Metro Jail, Criminal Justice Center Security and Intake and Release. In the Administrative Bureau he has been assigned to Training where he served as the Academy Director.
Commander Deborah Harris
Commander Deborah Harris is a dedicated individual with a diverse background. Born in Seoul, South Korea, she had the unique opportunity of growing up in various locations due to her military family, including Washington State, Georgia, California, and Colorado. This upbringing not only cultivated her outgoing personality but also instilled in her a passion for exploring new environments.
Her academic journey saw her excelling at Sierra High School, where she served as the student body president and also excelled in both volleyball and swimming. She furthered her education by attending Pikes Peak Community College, UCCS, and eventually graduated from Colorado Technical University with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and Human Services. In 2008, Commander Harris started her career at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, where she has gained experience working across all three bureaus of the Office. Known for her dedication to fostering community relationships and promoting transparency, Commander Harris continues to make a positive impact in her field. She was the first law enforcement officer named as the Colorado Springs Business Journal's Rising Star (2019). Throughout her career, she has found herself deeply involved in various community groups, events, and non-profit organizations. She has great passion and embraces building connections with the community.
Her family is her driving force, she ensures her family is her priority in all things she does.