Bee County sheriff details training, mental‑health deputy and grant wins in 118‑day update

Sheriff Randy J. Aguirre told the Bee County Commissioners Court on April 28, 2025, that his office has focused on training, equipment acquisition and early steps to address mental‑health calls and jail liability during his first 118 days in office.

Aguirre said the office has adopted new uniform patches and is standardizing appearance for deputies and jail staff. He described several training efforts, including pepper‑spray certification for jail staff and a weeklong school in jail administration for newly elected sheriffs and jail administrators.

The sheriff emphasized a new mental‑health officer initiative, saying one deputy, Jennifer Trevino, completed certification and will be part of responses intended to de‑escalate incidents without force. Aguirre said the program is intended to expand to additional deputies so the department can “talk the individual down” and direct people to mental‑health services or detention as appropriate.

Aguirre described jail management as a major liability for the county: the facility averages about 100 inmates per day. He said the office has prioritized training and safety tools for jail staff.

On budget matters, Aguirre told the court his administration cut overtime in the department’s first six pay periods compared with the prior administration’s first six pay periods — from 2,568 overtime hours down to about 1,235 hours — and said reducing overtime is one way to relieve pressure on the general fund. He also reported that revenue returned to the general fund from inmate housing and related fees in 2024 totaled about $530,000.

Aguirre said the office has pursued and secured outside equipment and grants: over $25,000 in equipment coordinated with the Texas Department of Public Safety (radars, storage boxes, gun locks and cameras), and a $48,000 grant from the Rochelle Foundation to purchase body cameras and computers. He said the department has applied to Operation Lone Star for roughly $800,000 in equipment and is pursuing a ConocoPhillips grant for items including a portable “mini‑shield” for officer protection and a possible K‑9 narcotics unit.

The sheriff described other outreach and recruiting tools — new vehicle striping, a “ghost lettering” vehicle to serve as a K‑9 unit if funded, and a step‑and‑repeat banner for school recruiting events — and described Del Mar College’s assistance with free training for jailer certification.

Commissioners and the county judge thanked the sheriff for the report and for focusing on training, mental‑health response and fiscal stewardship. No formal action was taken on the presentation.

Aguirre concluded by saying he and his staff will continue to pursue grants and training partnerships to support patrol operations, jail safety and officer readiness.