{"id":3947,"date":"2026-08-20T14:06:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=3947"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:06:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:06:07","slug":"rural-colorado-county-says-its-running-out-of-money-for-sheriffs-department","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=3947","title":{"rendered":"Rural Colorado county says it\u2019s running out of money for sheriff\u2019s department"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Five months after a rural southern Colorado sheriff and several of his deputies were indicted and removed from office, county leaders say they\u2019re running out of money to fund law enforcement operations.<\/p>\n

Read more Longtime Denver bookstore closing after nearly 50 years<\/a><\/p>\n

The Costilla County commissioners on Tuesday passed a resolution finding an \u201cextraordinary law enforcement staffing shortage\u201d that threatens essential public safety services.<\/p>\n

Joe Smith, the interim sheriff since March, told commissioners he has three people, including himself, to patrol and respond to calls across 1,230 square miles near the New Mexico state line.<\/p>\n

These three officers are working 80 to 90 hours per week, he said. During portions of the week, there\u2019s only one of them on duty at a time.<\/p>\n

As a result of the staffing shortage, Smith said his people are forced to triage calls, determining \u201cwhat\u2019s the most criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese folks, frankly, feel like they\u2019re treating us as if we\u2019re the volunteer fire department,\u201d Smith told The Denver Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

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Missing evidence, mishandled cases and financial malfeasance: \u2018The law just doesn\u2019t exist\u2019 in this rural Colorado county<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n