Sheriff and CSU Pueblo sign sixth amendment shifting vehicle and operating payment structure for campus policing

The Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners approved a sixth amendment May 6 to the intergovernmental agreement with the Board of Governors of Colorado State University Pueblo to continue supplemental law enforcement on the CSU Pueblo campus.

The amendment keeps one lieutenant and eight deputies assigned to the campus and revises how vehicle costs are charged. Under the change the county will no longer bill a daily vehicle fee plus mileage; instead staff described a multi‑year repayment model (72 months/7 years) for county vehicles, and that repayment is reflected in the agreement as part of annual vehicle operating costs. Staff said the amendment places vehicle repayment and operating charges inside an annual $1,008,826.25 payment from the university for officers and related equipment and costs; that sum is billed in four payments under the amended agreement.

Mark Mears, chief with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, told the Board the deputies assigned to CSU Pueblo currently cover the campus on rotating shifts: typically three on days, three on afternoons and two on graveyard shifts. He said the sheriff’s office has discussed further staffing increases with the university and that any future increase — the sheriff flagged adding a sergeant and another deputy — would be considered when staffing levels allow. Commissioners approved the amendment by voice vote.

Ending: The amendment keeps county deputies stationed on the CSU Pueblo campus and replaces daily vehicle/mileage charges with a multi‑year vehicle repayment schedule included in the university’s annual payment to the sheriff.