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Elbert County sheriff outlines staffing and equipment requests as records and victim services surge
Summary
Sheriff Tim Norton presented multiple unfunded requests including staffing for records, a full‑time victim advocate, animal control/code enforcement options, investigators and vehicle/equipment needs; commissioners asked for more detail and finance staff said much equipment can be adjusted within the existing budget.
Sheriff Tim Norton told the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners the sheriff’s office is handling sharply rising records, body-camera and victims‑assistance workloads and requested additional staffing and equipment to meet demands.
Norton told the board county staff processed about 24,000 body‑camera video requests in 2024 and that the office is “on track for 39,000 body cameras this year.” He said the department plans to raise records fees to $35 an hour and remove the free first hour to help offset labor for redaction and records production, but emphasized statutory limits on charging: “per statute … CRS 24‑72‑306, is that we cannot charge more, that we can't make a profit on it.”
Norton listed priorities he said the department needs: a records clerk (top priority), moving a part‑time victim advocate to full time, additional investigators and detention staff, and equipment and vehicles. He said victim‑advocate calls had averaged just over 250 and could reach about 700 by year‑end; concealed handgun permit applications run about 91 per month and exceed 1,000 per year; and investigators are handling heavy caseloads — “each investigator … 30 felony cases” and a part‑time investigator with about 25 cases.
On equipment, Norton requested additional patrol vehicles and upfitting (camera, taser, rifles, vests, uniforms) and protective equipment for two deputies joining a SWAT team. He also described radio replacements and cyber‑security concerns for public‑safety systems. Norton asked the board to delay purchasing a “wall banger” ballistic system until staff could compare pros and cons.
Commissioners pressed for numbers and options. Commissioner Schroeder suggested the department could “massage” the current budget to buy most of the requested equipment this year and defer some hiring to a later work session. Finance director Tiffany Hermes told the board that one‑time equipment could be funded from current available funds (she estimated roughly $50,000 without vehicles and about $80,000 including vehicles) and that vehicle purchases are out of a separate fund; she also said vehicle lease costs would be spread annually and upfitting costs add to the per‑vehicle amount.
Public commenters and other elected officials urged fiscal caution. Elbert County Treasurer Sherry Hewlett and Assessor Susan Murphy both stressed long‑term fiscal discipline and warned against using reserves for ongoing recurring costs. Several members of the public — including a developer and citizens — urged careful study before a broad, ongoing commitment.
No formal vote was held on the sheriff’s unfunded requests. Commissioners requested additional cost detail and recommended staff pursue equipment purchases that could fit within the current budget while bringing position requests and vehicle decisions back for further discussion or a work session.
