Opinion ID: 162081
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Relationship between the Sheriff's Office and the County

Text: 13 In Colorado, counties and the offices of county commissioner and county sheriff are created under separate sections of the Colorado Constitution. See Colo. Const. art. XIV, § 1 (county), § 6 (county commissioner), and § 8 (county sheriff). Colorado statutes define the powers and duties of counties, county commissioners, and county sheriffs. See generally Colo.Rev. Stat. tit. 30. Sheriffs have the power to appoint undersheriffs and deputies, as well as fix their salaries, subject to the approval of the board of county commissioners. See Colo.Rev.Stat. § 30-2-106(1). 14 Clear Creek County is governed by a Board made up of three county commissioners. The Board establishes the budget for the Sheriff's Office. Employees who work in the Sheriff's Office are paid out of this budget. The Sheriff's Office uses County services for administration, including employee benefits, accounting, bookkeeping, and personnel. The Sheriff chose to adopt a County compensation plan. The Sheriff also consults with the County Director on Human Resources and the County Attorney on personnel issues. 15 The County's Personnel Review Board reviews policies, procedures, and personnel issues. It creates and approves job descriptions, including those for the Sheriff's Office. The provisions of the County personnel policy manual govern the Sheriff's employees. The Sheriff's Office has its own policy and procedural manuals for its employees that supplement the County's general manual. 16 Bristol's paychecks were signed by a County commissioner. Bristol took his personnel questions, e.g., questions about his employee benefits, to the County human resource director.