What are the roles, rights, and duties of the El Paso County Sheriff? Are their specific ways that have you seen law enforcement agencies abuse their authority that concern you, and how will you prevent that from happening in the El Paso County Sheriff Department?

The sheriff is the last line of defense for the protection of our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms from anyone who tries to infringe upon those rights. The sheriff can and must make the utmost priority of protecting our rights from all enemies foreign and domestic. The sheriff has the right and the authority to prevent anyone, no matter who they are or whom they work for, from abusing people’s rights. The sheriff must use his authority to stop and if appropriate, charge any government employee who does this. Neither the state, nor the federal government is superior to the sheriff, because the sheriff’s authority is derived from the people who elected him and government derives its authority from the people.

As Sheriff, how would you seek to protect the most vulnerable in our county, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?

As Sheriff, it is my duty to protect and serve these vulnerable and victimized populations. The unborn are under attack from drug abuse, domestic violence, and legislative actions, all of which threaten their very existence. It is critical that the Sheriff has an awareness of what affects these vulnerable populations. I attend many of the local/national human trafficking meetings to ensure I am ready to combat the human trafficking crisis. The Senior Liaison program that is in place will be bolstered when I fix staffing issues. Also, I have relationships with multiple organizations in this community which will enhance the safety of the elderly. The Sheriff is responsible for the safety of all people, especially those who cannot protect themselves.

How will you defend and protect the Constitutional rights of the people of El Paso County against any unconstitutional overreach by state or federal government? (For example: “No Knock Raids”, “Red Flag Laws”, and “Health Mandates”.) In addition, how will you defend and protect El Paso County citizens against ANY unlawful act by any individual, governmental agent, foreign/international governmental body, or organization?

It is my duty, responsibility, and honor to defend the Constitutional rights of El Paso County citizens. As a respected leader, I will run the Sheriff’s Office with strong and trusted relationships with our state and federal law enforcement partners. I will be consulted prior to the execution of no-knock raids that will only be used in the most extreme circumstances in order to preserve life and safety. I will not enforce red flag laws as the law was poorly written and is not needed. We already have a process in place for writing appropriate warrants to ensure citizens are safe and secure. As your Sheriff, I will not enforce health mandates that violate personal choice.

What do you believe will be your most significant challenges as Sheriff of El Paso County? How will you address the overcrowding in the jail, illegal drug issues, and human trafficking in our county?

As your Sheriff, it is my responsibility to address the lawlessness and increasingly troubling drug use and crime in our community, which is at an unacceptable level. As your next Sheriff, I will not tolerate this as a way of life for El Paso County residents. Regarding our jail’s population, I will ensure that we are housing the offenders that threaten the safety of our community and not using our jail to house the mentally ill. I will also promote education and reform to reduce recidivism. Human trafficking exists in our community, and I will partner with community resources to educate them about human trafficking activity to ensure the safety of the public and create an environment unwelcome to traffickers.

As Sheriff, how would you seek to protect the most vulnerable in our county, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?

To make the biggest impact for our most vulnerable, we must impact the laws in order to provide statutory protection. I will begin with education and awareness, making the community aware of risks and threats and how to protect themselves. Working with legislators to introduce bills to protect our community will make the biggest and long lasting impact.

How will you defend and protect the Constitutional rights of the people of El Paso County against any unconstitutional overreach by state or federal government? (For example: “No Knock Raids”, “Red Flag Laws”, and “Health Mandates”.) In addition, how will you defend and protect El Paso County citizens against ANY unlawful act by any individual, governmental agent, foreign/international governmental body, or organization?

It is my Constitutional obligation to ensure I uphold the law and hold others to it. It is my intent to honorably meet and maintain this obligation. I will seek to hire individuals with integrity and train them with the same understanding of Constitutional law. I will work with legislators to protect El Paso County from undue governmental encroachment. I will seek community support and input regarding legislation with potential impact to El Paso County. I do not intend to enforce any unlawful mandate or require my sworn staff to do so. I have personally chosen not to adhere to the health mandates recently directed by governmental agencies. This is testament to my beliefs and conviction.

What do you believe will be your most significant challenges as Sheriff of El Paso County? How will you address the overcrowding in the jail, illegal drug issues, and human trafficking in our county?

My most significant challenges are battling legislation, unfunded mandates which adversely impact law enforcement or quality of life in El Paso County and staffing. I am qualified and prepared to address these challenges.

Overcrowding in the jail is a matter of perspective. If someone commits a crime against a citizen of El Paso County, they deserve to be incarcerated despite the Jail population.

Illegal drugs transcend many types of crimes. I will ensure deputies/detectives are well trained/equipped to detect and enforce narcotics related crimes and I will engage at legislative levels. I will be proactive in addressing the growing concern of human trafficking in our community by staying engaged in key, collaborative partnerships.