Forty deputies and 13 civilians were hired in January by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, thanks to a voter-approved tax increase that will pump an additional $17 million into the sheriff’s budget.

“We’ve been going like crazy,” said Sheriff Terry Maketa, “hiring, testing, do background checks.”

It’s a welcome change. Dave Roycraft has been an El Paso County deputy for 27 years, but said 2012 is one year he’d like to forget.

“We had a lot less staff and morale suffered,” Roycraft said. “Last year was probably the lowest point in my career. Officer safety was an issue on patrol and in the jail.”

In November, 64 percent of El Paso County voters approved a small sales tax increase that will end after eight years.

The additional money allowed Maketa to hire 53 people — 40 deputies and 13 civilians — in January. Maketa still has 92 jobs to fill, most of them for deputies.

A 21-week training academy for newly hired deputies began Jan. 14, with other training academies set for May and late summer. A lateral training academy — for 19 deputies with previous law enforcement experience — will start April 15.

He’s also replacing equipment and buying new patrol vehicles and weapons for incoming deputies.

“Since 1A passed, there’s a lot more hope and promise,” Roycraft said. “Morale is key, and things are looking up.”

County commissioners put the tax question on the ballot because they couldn’t pay for critical needs — primarily personnel and equipment — in the sheriff’s office. After 1A passed, commissioners set Maketa’s 2013 general fund budget at $47 million.

County budget director Nicola Sapp said Maketa should receive between $1.2 million and $1.7 million per month from the 1A tax.

The tax is twenty-three hundredths of one cent ($0.0023) per dollar, which adds 2.3 cents to a $10 purchase or 23 cents to a $100 purchase.

“The passing of 1A was critical,” said patrol deputy John Watts. “We’re so grateful the community stood behind the sheriff and deputies.”

Maketa said more deputies will be on the street by summer and unguarded posts at the jail — the sheriff’s office operates the county’s only jail — will be filled.

Deputies have felt more unsafe in the past decade as personnel cuts began, Roycraft said.

“Through past years it was unspoken,” said Roycraft, who works at the jail. “The last couple of years, deputies have been more vocal about not being in safe situations. Deputies are looking over their shoulders. This place can be very hazardous. It’s hard to not have posts manned, but that’s been the norm for several years. Deputies know there is not much backup.”

Maketa said previously that instead of the seven to 10 deputies on patrol now, he should have 14 to 18 by summer.

“We’ll have more presence in high-crime areas and backup will be a lot closer,” said Watts, 27, a deputy for six years. “We should be more efficient than ever.”

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Contact Bob Stephens: 636-0276 Twitter @bobgstephens

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