As the result of a public information request we filed with El Paso County, we learned the Sheriff’s Office spent approximately $25 million on overtime pay between January 1, 2025, when Sheriff Oscar Ugarte assumed office, and September 30, 2026, the end of FY 2026.
That works out to an average of $39,246 per day for 637 days.
We subsequently filed a public information request for the total overtime pay disbursed during the 2024 fiscal year, when Richard Wiles was the County Sheriff.
We learned the total overtime pay that year was $8,996,755, or an average of $26,649 per day.
Thus, on average, Sherriff Ugarte doled out 47% more overtime pay than Sheriff Wiles.
His department was $7.6 million over budget for FY 2026.
He should resign.