Park County sheriff urges higher pay, equipment upgrades as budget shortfall looms

Park County commissioners heard a workshop presentation on May 5 about the sheriff’s office budget, staffing shortages and equipment needs, including upgrades to radio software, vehicle procurement options and growing detention medical and mental‑health costs.

The sheriff’s office representative said the department currently has 18 sworn officers covering about 2,800 square miles with a county population of roughly 18,000 and two recruits currently in the police academy. “So current staffing levels. Right now, our our staffing level is 18 sworn law enforcement officers cover 2,800 square miles, population of 18,000,” the sheriff’s office representative said.

Why it matters: presenters told commissioners that staffing and equipment shortfalls affect response capacity across the county, increase overtime and make it difficult to staff special events and court security. Commissioners were asked to consider possible funding sources, including transfers from PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes), resort tax proceeds, targeted appropriations and grant support.

Key details

- Staffing and retention: Presenters said the office has 18 sworn officers, two of whom are at the police academy and not yet field‑ready, and 9 detention staff (a captain, one sergeant and seven detention officers). The presentation cited a 2015 staffing assessment recommending five additional deputies and three detention officers; since then the office gained three sworn positions and a half detention officer position. Presenters said…