The Hockley County Sheriff’s Office has big plans for itself and the county. With the Senate Bill 22 Grant (SB 22 grant), the agency can make changes regarding promotions, equipment, salaries, and other amenities. Public Information Officer Emilio Miranda explains that the grant allows the station to stay up to date and make sure the department gets the resources it needs.
“We really rely on those grants. They help us out quite a bit,” Miranda said. “We were able to supplement our salary with a grant from Senate Bill 22.”
The grant does a lot for the office - it also releases a burden on Hockley County taxpayers. Funding comes from the state, not the local budget, allowing for improvements to be made without raising taxes.
Alongside funding, the Sheriff's Department was able to promote many of its officers, including promoting Elso Covasos, who serves as the jail administrator.
James Damo was promoted to lieutenant of the jail, and Shane Lawson to sergeant in the detention facility.
“On our patrol side and detention center side, we are nearly fully staffed, which is great,” Miranda said. “We had 18 applicants for one jail position, so that should be filled in the near future.”
Grants also help the station increase supplies and technology.
“We’ve ordered two new vehicles, those should be on the street in the next couple months,” Miranda said. “We put a lot of miles on our vehicles, from Anton to Sundown to Ropesville, so getting new ones really helps us out.”
The Sheriff's Department was able to get all patrol deputies pepperball certified, allowing for better non-lethal use of force. New firearms were purchased, staff took lessons with tasers and participated in Jiu-Jitsu lessons improved selfdefense techniques.
“Without that grant, some of the things we’ve been able to do would be a lot tougher,” Miranda said.
The department said these improvements are essential for keeping the community safe. To Miranda, it’s important to maintain an image for the people, to keep their trust, especially if someone has a problem.
“Every single one of us represents our agency, on and off duty,” Miranda said. “We want to make sure we have the trust of the public and that they want to call us when something happens.”
By relying on the SB 22 grant, the sheriff’s office can fund salaries, training, and equipment without resorting to taxpayer dollars, ensuring better safety measures from law enforcement.