El Paso Matters – Q&A: El Paso county sheriff candidates in Nov. 5 general election

Who’s running for this seat?

Candidate Questionnaires

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words. Responses have been lightly edited for grammar.

What is your vision for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in the next 10 years and what needs to be done to get there?

Minerva Torres Shelton: My vision for the next 10 years is a fully staffed Sheriff’s Office where employees are equipped to excel and promoted on merit, not favoritism. We need an independent sheriff, free from political obligations. I’ll pursue grants to secure resources without burdening taxpayers. Boosting morale, modernizing recruitment, and addressing challenges in our county jail are key to attracting and retaining top talent.

Oscar Ugarte: Build a modern, community-focused department that prioritizes public safety, transparency and accountability. Over the next 10 years, I aim to enhance recruitment, invest in advanced training, and improve resources for mental health and rehabilitation. By fostering collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies and ensuring accountability, I hope to create a safer, more resilient El Paso County for everyone.

What programs, if any, does the Sheriff’s Office need to do away with, improve or implement to improve policing, particularly in rural areas of the county?

Minerva Torres Shelton: Improving and establishing relationships, especially in the county’s rural areas, is essential to better serving our community. Through strong community partnerships, our deputies will better understand the community’s needs and fully understand what areas need additional policing. These relationships will also assist in developing leads needed to investigate and prevent crime.    

Oscar Ugarte: We need to expand community policing to increase deputy visibility and engagement in rural areas. Implementing a Civilian Social Services Unit to connect residents with resources they need and expanding the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program will enhance mental health and substance abuse interventions. Outdated programs should be reviewed and reformed, and improving technology and communication systems will help reduce response times and increase safety across all communities.

The Sheriff’s Office has faced some challenges with its jails in meeting standards and also funding since federal funding has decreased due to increased state arrests of migrants. How will you address these challenges?

Minerva Torres Shelton: As I have been stating from the beginning, and in sharp contrast to my opponent, illegal immigration is not just a federal matter. This issue affects our community in many ways, and we see its effect on our detention facilities. In an interview earlier this year before the primaries, my opponent said he would ask the County Commissioners Court what he should do. The county commissioner quickly said this was a federal issue, not our problem. Since the commissioners did not immediately have conversations with state representatives, the jail missed out on federal funds available to compensate the jail for holding these inmates in our detention facilities. Taxpayers have been responsible for paying millions of dollars to process and hold state smuggling arrests. I will work with the state and federal government to ensure that these inmates are being charged correctly, make sure the state and federal government pay their fair share for housing them, and that we work towards expediting their cases. It’s urgent that we do this, so they are no longer a burden on our taxpayers. 

Oscar Ugarte: I’ll work with the Commissioners Court, our state delegation, and our congresswoman to find new funding sources to address the cuts. We’ll explore both federal and state options. I’ll focus on improving jail conditions by increasing staffing, boosting staff morale, enhancing training, and looking at options to upgrade facilities to ensure we are always up to standard.

How would you ensure your officers and all uniformed-staff provide trustworthy, ethical public service free of impropriety? How would you manage allegations of impropriety among your officers?

Minerva Torres Shelton: I will implement the following: 1) Comprehensive ethics and community engagement training. 2) A clear code of conduct, with firm, fair, and consistent responses to allegations. 3) Leadership by example— I will demonstrate leadership by example, embodying integrity, transparency, and accountability in everything I do. 4) Regular community meetings to welcome feedback, address concerns, and discuss both positive and negative interactions.

Oscar Ugarte: I’ll make sure officers deliver trustworthy, ethical service by providing strong training, setting clear expectations and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. Building a culture of transparency is important to me. If allegations of impropriety arise, they’ll be investigated quickly and fairly, and we’ll take action based on the findings, making sure the public and officers are treated with respect and held accountable.

What are the top three crimes the Sheriff’s Office deals with and what would you propose to address them?

Minerva Torres Shelton: The top three crimes are: 1) Drugs and human trafficking. I propose increasing collaboration with federal agencies for intelligence sharing and joint operations, plus specialized training for deputies. 2) DWIs and reckless driving. I’ll enhance patrols in high-risk areas, create a traffic enforcement team, and promote public education. 3) Transnational organized crime. I’ll train deputies to recognize it and work with federal partners to address it.

Oscar Ugarte: During my conversations with voters, three major concerns consistently arise: gun violence, drunk driving and theft. To address these concerns, I’ll focus on increasing visibility and building strong relationships with community members including our youth, local businesses and others. I will also work closely with law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels, fostering close relationships, to help reduce and prevent these issues.