Position requests are typically considered in conjunction with the County’s budget process each year; however, at times, due to extenuating circumstances, positions may be considered by the Commissioners Court as a mid-year request depending on the operational needs of the County. While this particular position was requested as part of the FY2022 budget hearings, the need for the position is so critical that we are seeking the Court’s approval in advance.
The intended purpose of this Public Safety Services Manager (PS05) position is to manage, plan, develop, integrate, and evaluate the customization, installation, and maintenance of the public safety radio/wireless/microwave/security surveillance infrastructure. The immediate need for this position is to create a dedicated resource that can assist with the current efforts to provide oversight and support of El Paso County’s overall surveillance needs. As the County seeks to invest in new surveillance requests across multiple County Facilities, to include both jail facilities, there is an imminent need by the ITD to maintain and support security needs throughout.
Of significance, the County Sheriff’s Office has internal and external security systems at both jail facilities, as well as all substations. These systems have increasingly become a union between security and technology evolving into a different branch of technology thus increasing the need for a video security operator assigned to the ITD. Because security systems are also in place in other County buildings, if approved, the scope of this position will be expanded to all County security systems. Ultimately, this resource will help to maximize safety/security of all employees, visitors and members of the public.
The County’s Surveillance Committee, which consists of employees from the Sheriff’s Office, Constable Office Pct. #1, ITD, Facilities, Budget, and Human Resources, have been meeting regularly to discuss the County’s surveillance needs and have reviewed the position description as it relates to the County’s expectations. If approved, the position will be added to the County’s staffing tables, and ITD will begin recruitment for this critical position thereafter.