Sheriff’s department still dealing with deputy vacancies

Looking at benefits, investing in technology 

By Katherine Nettles

In a recent update to county commissioners, the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Department shared that it has been dealing with continued vacancies despite an approved budget to add another deputy position, and described some evidence room and jail upgrades, as well as ideas for its unused personnel funds and making job openings more competitive. The idea of an armored vehicle for contentious situations was discussed but not decided.

 Sheriff Adam Murdie said the department has hired a local resident to work in its new evidence room, which will be instrumental in the department’s compliance with new federal laws to digitize evidence. “I think she’s going to make a huge difference in that evidence room,” said Murdie. She is completing a training program in Dallas for the next few months.

 Murdie also shared that the jail is getting new furniture which will be bolted down to the floor instead of the current furnishings, “which have moved around and gotten broken.”

Considering benefits

Murdie said the department has lost two deputies to the Crested Butte Marshall’s office recently due to benefits, and another new position approved last year has remained unfilled. “Our wages are very good, compared to others in the state,” said Murdie. But he said family medical costs are a major factor. “We’ve got to figure out something to remain competitive,” he said. “CB has full family medical coverage, which is hard to compete with.”

He said some paycheck/timesheet mishaps were contentious for some of his deputies, but he believes they are on a positive path now. Murdie mentioned that retirement benefits could also help and recommended that the county consider adding a Colorado pension program for first responders, fire and law enforcement. “That means they have a pension to look forward to. Just something to think about.”

Armored vehicle?

Undersheriff Josh Ashe brought up the possibility of attaining a “bear claw,” which is a heavily armored vehicle for law enforcement. Ashe noted the department has projected it will have $1.1 million in unused funds for this year due to personnel vacancies and the agency is facing increased risks with the dangerous situations they’ve had to deal with. “We’ve brought a bear claw in three times in two-and-a-half years,” he said, but added there have been other times where if there had been one it would have been a relief. “With more elevated calls for service, we would have used one if we had one to deploy.”

Ashe said the likelihood of sending budgeted funds back again is low in the future, and the vehicle takes about 18 months for delivery. It is about $400,000 currently, “and the price keeps going up,” added Murdie. 

“It is a rescue vehicle. It protects our officers as well as the persons we are trying to de-escalate,” he said. He said the vehicle can be used with armed criminals or hostage type situations and described some harrowing recent situations. “We are trying to prepare for an event that we pray does not happen.”

Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels asked about finding used machines or grants. Ashe said there is not really a market for used vehicles of that type, and lot of grants have already been afforded to the county in the post-COVID era, with programs having largely dried up.

“But we have got a verbal commitment from the city of Gunnison to contribute $100,000,” he said. 

Puckett Daniels said she wanted to make sure they aren’t just chasing “the shiny new thing,” and commissioner Liz Smith expressed concern that some departments have obtained one and then used it to excess, increasing a sense of police militarization.

Murdie assured commissioners it would not be used for general arrests, but for known, verbalized threats and unstable situations. “This would be a great tool for our higher risk things. It would not affect how we do business on a daily basis,” he said.  

Smith also asked the department to investigate other, softer resources to address the increasing number of mental-health related calls. 

It was a work session, so no actions were taken but the request may come back up during budget talks this fall.