Costilla County officials have formally declared a law enforcement staffing emergency as the county’s Sheriff’s Office continues to struggle with staffing and financial pressures following months of turmoil.

On Tuesday, August 18, the Costilla County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution finding that an “extraordinary law enforcement staffing shortage” is threatening essential public-safety services in the county. The resolution is intended to help the county pursue emergency financial assistance from the State of Colorado. County officials have reportedly been in contact with the Colorado Department of Public Safety and the Department of Local Affairs about possible assistance.

The situation represents the latest challenge for a Sheriff’s Office that has been rebuilding since March, when former Sheriff Danny Sanchez, former Undersheriff Cruz Soto and other current or former members of the department were indicted by a grand jury.

The charges arose from two separate investigations involving allegations concerning the handling of human remains and the use of force against a man experiencing a mental-health crisis. The charges remain allegations, and those charged are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Following Sanchez’s resignation, Joe Smith was appointed interim sheriff on March 30. At one point immediately following the transition, Smith was the Sheriff’s Office’s only full-time employee. Other law-enforcement agencies stepped in to provide assistance while the department began rebuilding.

Three Officers Covering 1,230 Square Miles

The department has since added personnel, but staffing remains extremely limited.

Smith told commissioners that the Sheriff’s Office currently has only three officers, including himself, available to patrol and respond to calls throughout Costilla County’s approximately 1,230 square miles.

According to Smith, the three officers are working approximately 80 to 90 hours per week, and there are periods when only one officer is on duty. The staffing shortage has forced the department to prioritize calls based on their seriousness. Smith has said he believes the department needs at least nine deputies to adequately cover the county.

Questions Over Sheriff’s Office Budget

Finances have now become another major concern.

Costilla County Chief Administrative Officer Ben Doon confirmed that the Sheriff’s Office’s 2026 budget is $761,426. According to Doon, that budget did not contain money specifically earmarked for overtime, while the staffing shortage has resulted in substantial overtime expenses.

The county also continued paying several of the indicted officers while they were on administrative leave, which Doon said negatively affected the department’s budget.

Smith, however, has questioned the county’s explanation of the Sheriff’s Office finances.

He says the department is supposed to have funding for approximately 9.5 positions and has questioned how the department could already be facing such significant financial problems.

Smith has also raised concerns about approximately $70,000 in overtime claims that he says remain unpaid and has indicated he may consider legal action against the county. County administration disputes whether Smith, as an elected official, is legally eligible for overtime compensation.

County Seeking State Assistance

The commissioners’ emergency resolution could help open the door to additional state financial assistance.

State funding and assistance from neighboring law-enforcement agencies helped Costilla County immediately following the March upheaval, but that assistance has since diminished. County leaders are now seeking additional help as they attempt to maintain law-enforcement coverage while rebuilding the department.

For residents, the issue goes beyond county budgets and personnel disagreements. With only three officers covering a large rural county, the central concern is maintaining reliable law-enforcement and emergency response services.

There are also still unanswered questions about exactly how the Sheriff’s Office reached its current financial position and what additional funding may be available to keep deputies on the job through the remainder of 2026.

The San Luis Valley Beat will continue following developments involving the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office, including any action on emergency state funding, staffing and the department’s budget.

Sources include Costilla County officials and independent reporting on the August 18 emergency staffing resolution and Sheriff’s Office budget situation.

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