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Clear Creek sheriff reports staffing gains, warns jail revenue from U.S. Marshals has fallen sharply
Summary
Sheriff Matt Harris told commissioners on Feb. 4 the office has improved sworn staffing levels but the county’s jail revenue from the U.S. Marshals contract has fallen from roughly $1.27 million in 2019 to $318,000 in 2024, shifting costs to the general fund.
Sheriff Matt Harris provided an operational update to the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 4, saying the office has made progress on staffing and policy updates while continuing to face financial challenges tied to declining revenue from federal detention contracts.
Harris said the sheriff’s office is implementing a new Lexipol policy manual and has completed roughly 85% of the updates to detention and law‑enforcement procedures; he said training (CPR, field sobriety, TASER and ‘less‑lethal’ training) has increased as staffing improved. “We estimate coming in for fiscal year ’24 is $7.7 million of the allocated $8.3 million,” Harris told the board, attributing projected underspends largely to previously vacant positions.
The sheriff reported an increase in sworn staffing: “By next week, we will have 44 sworn deputies compared to 33 at the same period in December of 2023.” He said the jail’s average daily population in 2024 was 38 inmates with an average length of stay of 21 days; on the day of the meeting the jail held 35 inmates, 18 of whom were U.S. Marshals detainees.
Harris warned of a long‑term revenue shift. “In 2019 there was $1,270,000 in revenue from the Marshal service contract. In 2024, that was $318,000,” he said, noting that as the marshal contract has shrunk it now covers a far smaller share of jail operating costs and the general fund is carrying a larger share of expenses.
Harris also provided patrol and records statistics: 1,529 calls for service in January 2025 (602 traffic‑related), 62 motor‑vehicle crashes and roughly $46,000 in January ticket revenue. The sheriff’s office recorded about 9,500 body‑worn camera recordings in 2024 and fulfilled more than 350 public‑records requests.
Harris told commissioners the office is preparing a 3–5 year strategic plan, a new annual report and better statistical record‑keeping; he said the office is considering a citizens academy in 2025 to increase public familiarity with sheriff’s operations.
Ending: Commissioners thanked Harris and asked staff to continue supplying the financial and operational data needed to evaluate funding options being discussed elsewhere on the Feb. 4 agenda.
