Successful Practices & Strategies Vol. 3 | No. 1

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

El Paso, Texas 

http://www.epcounty.com/sheriff/

Community policing element 

Community partnerships, problem solving, and 

organizational transformation 

Problem/issue 

Juvenile delinquency 

Problem description 

Juvenile delinquents from extreme poverty stricken areas of the county are often undersupervised, left 

to their own devices for hours on end; they lack alternative extracurricular activities to prevent criminal 

mischief. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is addressing this issue with our COPS Hiring Grant—SRO 

Program by piloting a summer teen and police service (TAPS) program with 26 at-risk juveniles. 

Community policing strategies implemented 

Because of extreme community poverty and the lack of services in colonias (unincorporated, 

unregulated, substandard settlements) in the outermost part of El Paso County, the El Paso County 

Sheriff’s Office is proud to have implemented a pilot summer program that addresses the needs of 

juveniles at risk for delinquency. This effort has been a collaborative partnership with the County 

Juvenile Probation Department, the County Attorney’s Office, the 65th District Court, and Clint 

Independent School District. It specifically allows us to address the continuum of supervision for at-risk 

juveniles and their re-entry into the school setting with our COPS Hiring Grant—School Resource Officer 

Program. 

Some of the community policing strategies that have been implemented include the following: 

 Permanent school resource officers (SRO). Each is assigned to a particular school and feeder pattern

for the duration of the program. These officers know best who are the more troublesome students

and can work with them on a continual basis. It benefits the school, the law enforcement agency,

and the community as a whole.

 Organizational arrangements. Each SRO lives in or near the community that they are assigned to and

the school where they work. Each assigned school has an office for the officer, and they are able to

visit with parents, teachers, and community members about any issue related to school safety.
 Community member participation. Each SRO attends the parent / teacher organization and helps 

facilitate dialogue about school safety, implementing school- and community-based 

organizations (e.g., booster clubs, a Lions Club, and a grandparent mentoring group) and pays 

particular attention to any calls for service in the nearby vicinity.

Change and/or impact as a result of these community policing efforts 

As a result of implementing the TAPS program, which began on June 16, 2014, the El Paso County 

Sheriff’s Office deputies have seen progress with the high school students who were referred to us by 

the Juvenile Justice Department. We have been able to develop a closer bond with students and see one 

another in a more positive light. The negative attitudes the students had the beginning of the program 

toward law enforcement has decreased significantly. Therefore, we are creating mutual respect, trust, 

opening communication and having a clear understanding of one another’s roles. Many students who 

would have dropped out of high school are now able to catch up with their high school credits through 

this program. By doing this, we are affording them a better opportunity of curtailing their criminal 

behavior. We have exposed them to many positive cultural activities, such as visiting the art, 

archaeology, history, Ft. Bliss, Border Patrol, War Eagles Air, and Holocaust museums. They have also 

participated in a mountain hike; going to the planetarium; taking a jail tour; visiting Carlsbad Caverns 

and the El Paso Zoo; bowling; and touring of the University of Texas at El Paso. 

Lessons learned through program implementation 

Through an intense, structured curriculum, based on an intervention using a multifaceted approach, and 

with a dedicated team of mentors (the SROs), we were able to make a huge difference in the lives of 26 

high risk juveniles, some of whom have been charged with assaults, drug possession, extreme truancy, 

and repeat juvenile offenses. 

This academically studied evidence-based intervention, with community partners and support from the 

COPS Office, has allowed the sheriff’s office and local school district to form a tighter relationship. The 

cohesive application of identifying and working with at-risk youth has proven to be a great asset to the 

traditional school year, preventing possible further violence and opening dialogue between law 

enforcement, schools, and at-risk youth. 

The opinions contained herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the 

U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an 

endorsement by the author(s) or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement 

discussion of the issues. 

The Internet references cited in this document were valid as of the date of publication. Given that URLs and websites are in 

constant flux, neither the author(s) nor the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services can vouch for their current validity. 

Published 2016