Commission approves unfreezing a sheriff's position and accepts capital grants for equipment, firearms, vehicles

The Colfax County Commission approved unfreezing one previously frozen position in the sheriff’s office and accepted multiple state capital outlay grants to replace firearms and body armor and to purchase and equip patrol vehicles.
Sheriff Leonard Baca reported the department had completed advertising and candidate interviews and requested authority to unfreeze the position so finalists could continue through psychological and other pre-employment checks; the commission voted to allow hiring pending successful completion of those checks.
Separately, the commission approved capital outlay grant agreements authorized by the state legislature: $160,000 for replacement firearms and body armor, $240,000 to purchase and equip sheriff’s vehicles, and other appropriations including a $150,000 tractor-trailer for road department items and $100,000 for a maintenance truck for roads (these last two were handled under road department agenda items but notable for county equipment procurement). Sheriff Baca said the body armor will be returned to vendors for proper disposal and firearms will be worked into trade-in/credit arrangements with vendors.
Commissioners thanked state legislators who sponsored the appropriations and asked staff to bring procurement plans and to track grant reporting requirements. The grants were approved and staff were authorized to execute required agreement documents so equipment purchases can proceed.