What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Sheriff that will benefit our county?

I have 20 years of experience in the Sheriff’s Office, working a variety of assignments beginning as a chaplain. I’m currently a Lieutenant over the Reserve Unit. I’m also the president/founder of the Sheriff’s Office Foundation which promotes private/public partnerships with our community. I have 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur/business owner and am known for finding innovative solutions. Additionally, I have eight years of experience as the Director of Security, for both a local Christian school system and the world-renowned Broadmoor Hotel. This cumulative experience has given me a breadth of knowledge and trusted relationships throughout our community, state, and nation, setting me apart from the other candidates, which is crucial in leading the office into the future.

What is your vision for being our county’s Sheriff?

My vision for the Sheriff’s Office is to protect the citizens of El Paso County’s God-given constitutional rights and liberties. I will empower employees to excel within the workplace with the training and resources they need to protect and serve, setting the standard locally and nationally as a professional workforce. We will be transparent in how we police, with a focus on crime prevention and innovative intelligence-led policing. I will hold myself, along with the entirety of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, accountable to serving the community with professionalism and dignity, reflecting the valor, spirit, and pride of our great county. The goal of this partnership is to restore the community’s trust and faith in law enforcement.

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 duties and responsibilities of the Sheriff are set forth in Colorado Revised Statutes, which include keeping the peace and order in El Paso County, providing law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of the County, operating the El Paso County Jail to include the transportation of prisoners, maintaining civil process throughout the county, coordinating search and rescue efforts, and operating as the fire warden for the County, all while protecting the citizens’ God-given Constitutional Rights. The Sheriff’s Office also issues concealed handgun permits. I will establish a well-trained and well-educated workforce, knowledgeable not only in Colorado law, but also well-versed in Constitutional law, ensuring the citizens of El Paso County’s rights and liberties are protected and never infringed upon.

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?

By having strong and trusted relationships with state and federal partners, I will lead the Sheriff’s Office and be respected within the law enforcement community. I already have those relationships. As a respected law enforcement leader, I will have a seat at the table which will allow me to be consulted prior to these types of enforcement actions. The red flag law, as written, is not needed, nor do I support the current verbiage. As your Sheriff, I will not enforce unconstitutional health mandates of any kind, as these are not enforceable laws. Furthermore, it is my responsibility to ensure the citizens of El Paso County have the protection afforded to them by the Constitution of the United States.

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.

How will you recruit and retain highly qualified talent in the Sheriff’s Office? Do you plan to address the diminished police protection to the rural areas of El Paso County, and if so, how?

The Sheriff’s Office is currently operating with all-time historically low manpower levels. As your Sheriff, I will be innovative and aggressive in my recruiting of talent, to include advertising on social media platforms, opening lateral positions, and conducting nationwide searches. I have listened to the concerns of our rural El Paso citizens and am committed to bolstering our law enforcement presence in those areas. I will support employees of the Sheriff’s Office, empowering them to achieve their highest potential, and publicize the good work our employees are doing to keep the public safe. Sheriff’s Office employees will know they are supported, and the citizens of El Paso County will know we are there to protect their rights and liberties.

What will you do to work cooperatively with local Police Departments and other law enforcement agencies within El Paso County to provide better public safety?

Good relationships with other law enforcement entities are critical to public safety. I have those relationships. Working in a silo as an agency is not a good plan. On day one, as your Sheriff, I will bring developed and trusted relationships with numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement entities, promoting close collaboration with those agencies and a safer community. Fostering those relationships means the sharing of resources, to include intelligence, investigative and technical expertise, and fire mitigation, to name a few. We are in tumultuous times, and as your Sheriff, I will maintain a position of leadership and trust within the law enforcement community, to be able to reach into those agencies and foster the safety of the public.

What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Sheriff that will benefit our county?

I am your Christian, Conservative Republican, Constitutional sheriff’s candidate! I have over 28 years of experience as a full time law enforcement officer, of which the last 25 years have been in El Paso County with the Colorado Springs Police Department. I am currently a lieutenant with the Colorado Springs Police Department. I have been a patrol officer, motorcycle traffic officer, homicide detective, patrol supervisor, community relations supervisor, public information sergeant, sex crimes and domestic violence detective sergeant, patrol shift commander and am currently the lieutenant over the Airport Police Unit, the office of emergency management liaison, and I oversee the Municipal Security Unit. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 31 years.

What is your vision for being our county’s Sheriff?

I want to help create the best Sheriff’s Office to lead the state in innovation. We will challenge the status quo. We will work with regional partners to expand our ability to provide excellent law enforcement services. I will increase the capacity of our jail so it is sized appropriately for our growing county. We will create innovative programs like appointment based policing to free up deputies so they can respond quicker to life threating calls for service. When you call the office you will get a response. I will be accountable to citizens of the county and employees of the Sheriff’s Office.

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 role of the sheriff is to protect your constitutional rights first and foremost. The Sheriff must provide a proper jail that can provide for the needs of the county. It is the responsibility of the sheriff to lead in a way that does not tolerate the abuse of law enforcement powers. I will not be swayed or influenced by anyone or any entity to violate my oath to protect and defend the constitution of Colorado and the United States. I will instill leadership principals in all employees, but particularly formal leaders that our job is to hold people accountable to our oath. We will weed out those that don’t belong in law enforcement because they do not value their oath I will change the leadership paradigm of staff works for leadership and instead remind leadership that they work for their staff.

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?

I will defend the constitutional rights of our citizens! We will not enforce red flag laws unless a search warrant based upon probable cause that a crime has been committed can be obtained. No knock warrants will not be utilized except in the most extreme cases and I will personally review them for approval. I will not enforce health mandates that violate personal choice. I will view all government mandates with skepticism and they will be scrutinized for constitutionality. I will defend the citizens of the county from any government agencies that seek to violate their rights.

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?

I believe the biggest challenge will be bringing staffing levels up to our authorized strength. I will address this in the next question There is no overcrowding in the jail right now because the sheriff keeps the levels down to about 12-1300. The jail can hold up to 1800. I will open the doors. I will also seek to add on to the jail to increase capacity so it can handle the growth of our community. I will fight illegal drug cartels in our community by working with ICE to deport offenders that are in our country illegally. We will fight human trafficking by partnering with other regional agencies to provide a unified attack of the problem that goes beyond traditional jurisdictional boundaries.

How will you recruit and retain highly qualified talent in the Sheriff’s Office? Do you plan to address the diminished police protection to the rural areas of El Paso County, and if so, how?

SB-217 has stripped us of our qualified immunity and attacked our profession in many other ways. Deputies are fleeing the profession at historic rates. Many have also left because they are dissatisfied with the current leadership. I will recruit deputies that left for this reason back to the office. I will recruit from our military ranks in the county and remove barriers that prevent them from considering us for employment. I will recruit from within the county and outside the county and state. I will increase staffing in the rural areas by partnering with bordering police departments to handle calls close to their jurisdiction so we can reassign deputies that normally patrol those areas to the more rural areas.

What will you do to work cooperatively with local Police Departments and other law enforcement agencies within El Paso County to provide better public safety?

I will create strong partnerships with all local police agencies leaders. I will provide a fast prisoner intake process so officers can get back on patrol. I will provide prisoner transports to limit trips agencies have to make to the jail. In trade for this service, I will deputize all officers in our county so they can expand their jurisdictional boundaries to respond to calls for service in the county. I will work to share training academies, dispatch centers and other specializations that make sense. We are all in the county and we should work together to provide the best services for our citizens.

What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Sheriff that will benefit our county?

I have served the community and the Sheriff’s Office for over 26 years, and I am the Vice President of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition, protecting our 2nd Amendment rights. I began my career in 1995, graduating from (P.O.S.T) Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy. I have worked my way through the ranks starting at Sergeant, Lieutenant, Commander, Bureau Chief and Undersheriff.

During my 26 years I have served in diverse capacities to include the Jail, Court and Transport, Internal Affairs, Intake and Release, the Special Response Team, Metro, Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence while working with a Street Impact Team, and Marijuana Regulation, Concealed Handgun Permits, Training, Recruiting, and Budget and Finance.

What is your vision for being our county’s Sheriff?

I will address the mental health crisis in our County both in the community and in the Jail by increasing efforts and programs proven effective. I will provide more protection for the innocent and consequences to offenders (Reduce victims and crime) through systems designed to prevent crime.
Finally, I will continue to combat assaults on our constitutional rights and efforts to discredit and hinder our police forces.

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 duties of Sheriff are to uphold the Constitution, operate the jail, serve civil/criminal warrants, coordinate search/rescue, act as Fire Warden and protect the citizens of El Paso County.

I will take swift action against corruption and abuse of power. I will prevent abuse of power by providing above standard training, clearly defining expectations, and create a culture which promotes transparency, accountability, and ownership of actions.

I will provide the community the opportunity to voice concerns through a solid complaint system. Complaints and misconduct will be investigated thoroughly and in some cases through an investigation conducted by an outside party.

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.

How will you recruit and retain highly qualified talent in the Sheriff’s Office? Do you plan to address the diminished police protection to the rural areas of El Paso County, and if so, how?

I will recruit and retain talent by making the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office a desired place to work. This will be accomplished by creating and fostering an environment where people feel valued, appreciated, and have a voice.

I am the candidate developing and implementing a substation to serve the eastern and northern areas of the county.

What will you do to work cooperatively with local Police Departments and other law enforcement agencies within El Paso County to provide better public safety?

Interdepartmental Cooperation: What will you do to work cooperatively with local Police Departments and other law enforcement agencies within El Paso County to provide better public safety?

Over my 26 years of serving El Paso County, I have fostered relations with all local police and government agencies and leadership. I routinely discuss matters affecting our community with these leaders and work in collaboration to identify solutions.

What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Sheriff that will benefit our county?

• 28 years combined military and law enforcement experience
• Law enforcement special operations including search and rescue
• Emergency Manager USBP
• Operational leader and strategic management in a law enforcement agency with over 20,000 sworn agents
• Law enforcement executive officer in organization with over 4,000 sworn agents
• Interagency and Intelligence Community
• Counter-Transnational Organized Crime
• Counter-Terrorism
• MA Emergency Management & Homeland Security

What is your vision for being our county’s Sheriff?

The sole purpose of government is the protection is the protection of our God-given rights. Thus, the primary focus of the sheriff (and all police agencies) must be the protection of citizens’ rights. I will make the defense of the US Constitution the primary mission of the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office will be the premier peace keeping agency in the state using the US Constitution as the steering guidance for how the agency performs its duties. By ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution, the sheriff will promote the founders’ vision of small and limited government, thus, providing freedom and liberty to the people while ensuring that criminal violators are arrested and handed over for prosecution.

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.

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?

The sheriff can and must refuse to enforce any unconstitutional statute, order, mandate, or regulation. This is called nullification and is not dissimilar from The Doctrine Of The Lesser Magistrate. Red Flag laws are unconstitutional. Health mandates are unconstitutional and must not be enforced or obeyed. No Knock Raids must only be used when there is imminent danger to an innocent victim/hostage and then only if there is ample probable cause to believe that such a situation exists. Absent this very extreme set of circumstances, No Knock Raids should not be used. The sheriff must not only not participate in government overreach, he must take action against it when it occurs.

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?

Retention and recruitment are immediate challenges that must be vigorously addressed. The department’s mission is suffering because of the loss of manpower. Current employees must be retained before new hires can be sought. New and effective leadership will likely improve retention. Treat your employees right, and they won’t leave. Morale is the commander’s responsibility.

COVID protocols have been the biggest contributor to jail overcrowding. I will end COVID protocols. Drug dealers will be arrested. Drug and human trafficking rings will be aggressively pursued and dismantled. I will use every tool available to me to find and dismantle these organizations. Drug dealers will be arrested. Illegal grows will similarly pursued.

How will you recruit and retain highly qualified talent in the Sheriff’s Office? Do you plan to address the diminished police protection to the rural areas of El Paso County, and if so, how?

Ending corrosive workplace practices like cronyism and applying fair and equal standards (such as merit-based promotions) across the workforce will improve morale. Providing clear direction and expectations will also improve morale. Improving morale will improve retention and retention must precede recruitment of new hires. I will recruit former EPSO employees who left to other CO agencies as retention effort. When the current workforce is stabilized, I will place emphasis on recruitment of military members leaving active duty. I will streamline the HQ element to provide more available manpower for patrol. “Take home” vehicles for deputies who live in or near rural areas will provide more and better coverage.

What will you do to work cooperatively with local Police Departments and other law enforcement agencies within El Paso County to provide better public safety?

All local police departments should have interagency agreements, which should clearly identify their relationships. Forming taskforces among the local departments will provide mutual aid and assistance and serve as force multipliers. A centralized/joint dispatch/communications center will also strengthen local cooperation. The sheriff can (and should) deputize other local departments. The relationships between state and federal agencies must be clearly and uncompromisingly defined to establish the fact that local agencies are always in charge. State and federal agencies should only serve in support roles to and only at the request of local agencies. They do not have freedom to operate unless granted permission by the sheriff.