Sheriff's Office (Department 211)
Tim Norton, County Sheriff
Description and Mission
The Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement, criminal investigations, and detentions for Elbert County. The Sheriff's Office's statutory responsibilities include maintaining a jail and transporting prisoners, actins as Fire Marshal, serving civil process, preserving the peace, providing court security and enforcing County ordinances. The Sheriff's Office is supported by volunteer Posse members and reserve officers. The Sheriff's Office is the only law enforcement agency in the county that operates 24 hours, 7 days per week, and covers unincorporated areas if Elbert County and three incorperated towns of Elizabeth, Kiowa, and Simla.
Accomplishments, Goals, and Objectives
Accomplishments 2022:
The Sheriff’s Office continued to make significant operational and administrative changes in 2022. New computerized field reporting was instituted. We have implemented a series of software upgrades to make us more streamlined and efficient. This includes civil software and computerizing our evidence, which was very antiquated. Detentions is using new software that compliments and integrates the booking process from our mobile CAD system and records management.
Goals and Objectives 2023:
In 2023, we will strive to retain the staff we have and hire additional deputies to fill vacancies. We struggle as do other law enforcement agencies in the State of Colorado with finding, hiring and retaining staff, mostly in Patrol. Our Patrol and Investigations staffing is at a critical level. We are 8 employees down in this area or 34%, and 1 position down in Detentions.
We will be instituting a new technology that is proven in neighboring jurisdictions. Flock Camera Systems is a public -private company that links systems together to assist us with locating stolen vehicles. Many of our crimes involve suspects coming into the county in stolen motor vehicles.
Finally, the Sheriff’s Office will be adding a second Patrol K-9 in 2023. The K-9 and vehicle upgrades are funded by donation from private benefactors.