Maverick County Sheriff’s Office Raises Concerns Over Staffing, Pay and Public Safety Funding

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Maverick County Sheriff’s Office is raising concerns over staffing shortages, employee retention and limited operational resources, warning that current funding levels are making it increasingly difficult to meet growing public safety demands across Maverick County.

According to information shared with the Maverick County Commissioners Court, the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for law enforcement coverage across approximately 1,257 square miles, representing nearly 85 percent of the county outside the jurisdiction of the City of Eagle Pass and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe.

The department reports that only 15 deputies are currently assigned across four shifts, with just 11 trained and operational.

Those deputies are responsible for responding to thousands of calls for service, conducting traffic stops and handling incident reports throughout the year.

Major incidents can require several deputies at once, potentially leaving limited personnel available to respond to emergencies elsewhere in the county.

Another concern is the loss of experienced deputies to other agencies offering better compensation.

According to the information presented, regular county deputy pay is approximately $17.07 per hour. Grant funding increases total hourly compensation to approximately $20.05, but the amount remains below what some competing local law enforcement agencies offer.

The Sheriff’s Office also reports that its budget has absorbed a $375,000 reduction affecting resources available for staffing, vehicles, equipment, operations and other essential needs.

Staffing concerns extend beyond patrol operations.

At the Maverick County Detention Center, Texas Commission on Jail Standards staffing requirements call for approximately four floor officers for a population of 177 inmates, according to information provided by the Sheriff’s Office.

Current operations reportedly have only two officers available.
The department warned that when an officer must leave the floor for court appearances, medical needs, inmate transportation, investigations,
educational duties or other responsibilities, only one officer may remain.

Detention officers currently earn approximately $17.82 per hour, which the Sheriff’s Office says contributes to recruitment difficulties, employee turnover and increased overtime demands.

The jail is also processing approximately 750 booking and release events each month, with activity expected to increase because of ICE-related requirements.

Dispatch operations face similar pressure. Sheriff’s Office dispatchers provide services for 11 different agencies while operating with only two working dispatch stations, even as call volumes continue to increase.

Administrative demands have also grown significantly.

The number of administrative files handled by staff reportedly increased from 218 to 451, a 107 percent increase.

Those responsibilities include grants, audits, compliance, reimbursements, training and reporting requirements tied to county funding and daily operations.

Sheriff’s Office officials emphasized that the issue goes beyond employee salaries.

The department argues that losing experienced personnel also means losing years of training, leadership and institutional knowledge that cannot immediately be replaced.

The Sheriff Department has presented the Commissioners Court a clear message, if public safety is considered a county priority, adequate staffing, competitive compensation, dispatch capabilities and administrative support will require corresponding investment.