Elections are approaching, and four candidates are vying to replace Sheriff Bill Elder, who is term-limited. Three of those candidates were featured in the May issue. Greg Maxwellís initial interview had to be canceled when Robert Rummel had an emergency. Also, we are re-running the answers from Todd Watkins interview because of mistakes made in the original interview.All of the interviews were recorded and formatted in first person ó some words have been deleted because of space considerations.NFH: Tell us about yourselfMAXWELL: I was born in Indianapolis, and I am a fourth generation law enforcement professional. I have three daughters and four grandchildren and a fiancÈe ó all are super supportive of my run for sheriff. I moved to Colorado Springs in 1989 and began my service to El Paso County by volunteering as a chaplain for the sheriff’s office in 2002, while president and CEO of GA Maxwell Construction.†In this role, I helped multiple agencies in the area establish chaplain programs and orchestrated the development of the chaplain training program, sought by departments outside of Colorado.I was selected and completed the EPSO Reserve Academy in 2005, which allowed me to work in our law enforcement bureau.†I actively worked assignments in both detentions and patrol, and in special operations assignments such as the Crime Reduction Unit. I also worked as a K-9 handler and on patrol for numerous years.Working security for a number of special events in the county, I’ve established close working relationships with event planners at the Air Force Academy, Pikes Peak Rodeo, El Paso County Fair, and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb.††I also have and maintain close working relationships with our surrounding law enforcement agencies.†I was promoted to sergeant in the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office reserves in 2006.†The EPSO reserve program, under my leadership, served as a model for reserve programs both inside and outside of Colorado for the last 15 years.†In 2015, I joined EPSO as a full-time lieutenant, and was assigned to the Special Operations Section, where I oversaw the EPSO School Resource Officer program, Mounted Section, Cadet Program, Rural Enforcement Unit, Chaplain Unit, Reserve Unit, Marijuana Compliance, Homeless Outreach, and the Citizen Patrol Section.††In 2017, I founded the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, derived from a passion I have to serve as a member of the Sheriff’s Office, and as an avenue to better equip and serve the members of the EPSO.I left full-time law enforcement in 2017 when I was tapped to be the director of security for the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, a position I continue to hold with honor and dedication to this day.†I continue to serve as the lieutenant of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office reserve section.WATKINS: I was born in Phoenix. Iím a U.S. Army veteran, have been married 27 years and have two sons and a daughter. One son is in the Army, stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas, the other son is a deputy sheriff in Douglas County, and our daughter is currently attending UCCS. I have been in Colorado since 2015. I came here as a military advisor/liaison to the U.S. Special Operations Command North at Peterson AFB. I have been in Colorado since 2015. I came here as a military advisor/liaison to the U.S. Special Operations Command North at Peterson AFB.NFH: What qualifications do you have that will help you excel as sheriff ?MAXWELL: I have worked in virtually every assignment inside the sheriff’s office.†I have owned and managed a business in this community, and I started a foundation for the sheriff’s office. I have worked with almost every entity in the world in my current assignment at the Broadmoor. This experience has given me exposure to exceptional companies who do exceptional work.†I have always been able to innovate and find outside-the-box solutions to complicated problems.†I also have a vast network of local, state and federal partners. I have the vision to actively engage with the community and with employees at the sheriff’s office to make the office a great place to work while serving the community.WATKINS: Both my wifeís father and my father were police officers. Our family has served law enforcement in those areas plus Colorado. I understand and follow the Constitution of the United States and know how it should work. During my 24 years in the Border Patrol, I have been in leadership positions to include frontline supervisor, special operations team commander, intelligence supervisor and liaison to Northern Command working and coordinating with U.S. Special Operations at Peterson AFB. I also hold a Master of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. I have served at nearly every level of leadership and management in a law enforcement agency that has national security responsibilities as well as international influence that employs over 20,000 sworn federal agents.NFH: What event in law enforcement are you most proud of?MAXWELL: I am most proud and blessed when I am able to help children on many of the horrific family situations I’ve responded to as this is when they are most in need of police assistance. I am proud to represent the sheriff’s office and help them walk through the tragedy. Two particular instances will also be special as I have helped two local police widows through their most tragic day of their life, the loss of their husbands in the line of duty. We continue to be friends to this day. Having had close relationships with their husbands, I thank God I was available and could assist them both during their traumatic times of grief and loss.WATKINS: Special operations and special team operations. Two special teams/units I served on and helped to build and develop grew into agency-wide special operations units. These were locally developed specialty teams that proved to be so effective and efficient that they were implemented throughout the agency. Thatís when a situation is presented, which is not commonplace. You have to assess the situation, make a determination of the best way to contain or eliminate it and work as a team to accomplish the job. In the Border Patrol, it was about execution/implementation of the plan to correct the situation and hold those accountable who were breaking the law.NFH: What situation in your career would you like to do over?MAXWELL: When I owned a commercial contracting company, I had always wanted to build something on water, but I never had the opportunity. I had the opportunity and privilege to build almost every type of facility both commercially as well as residentially, but that was something I had always wanted to do. I am always fascinated with challenging myself with unconventional building skills. Striving to find creative solutions while thinking outside the box is my specialty, which is why I believe I’m well-suited to serve as El Paso County’s Sheriff.WATKINS: I thoroughly enjoyed time with the Border Patrol. There are too many things to do in the Border Patrol; you canít fit them all in during a single career.NFH: Who is your hero?MAXWELL: My father: He always took the hard route and always did what was right, regardless of whether anyone was watching. He instilled this solid foundation in me and taught me what†an uncompromising character looked like. I have embodied those traits and I will be forever grateful. He also gave his life for this very profession, and I so dearly respect and am honored to serve as a law enforcement professional.WATKINS: That would be my dad. He earned no medals or notoriety, but he served as an example and mentor for me to respect and follow. He cared for our family, was a professional in everything he did, or attempted to do, and has always been a great example.NFH: What situation or requirement in the sheriffís office would you change, if you could?MAXWELL: I would find a solution for the professionals in that agency to have the necessary coverage and support. They should not be affected by bad legislation and personal attacks on their livelihood. They should not have financial exposure that could cripple families financially due to poor legislation that stripped law enforcement officers of qualified immunity. They have a very tough job, and that stress should not affect them. Other surrounding agencies have found these types of solutions, yet we are behind the times at the sheriff’s office. That will change.WATKINS: All government must recognize that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It is the duty of every government official to nullify laws, policies, orders, mandates that conflict with the Constitution. Government was given specific and limited powers; it is everyoneís job to ensure that those limitations are respected and peopleís rights arenít infringed. We elect officials to administer the powers and authorities that are assigned to the government, not to grow the government and invent new powers and authorities.NFH: Should you become our next sheriff, is there a particular policy or activity currently in effect you would change? MAXWELL: I would immediately initiate an application process as well as a lateral process for detention, patrol and for civilian positions. We are at historically low and unsafe staffing levels, and we currently have not provided a path to fix or even attempt to stop the mass exodus of our employees. The definition of insanity is repeating the same process and expecting a different result. We have to innovate to get good cops into these jobs to serve the public.I would first open this process up locally, and then nationally, until this was fixed. Running an academy with 60-70% less than your current attrition, with the knowledge that it is a year-long process from application to successful academy graduation, is not a good or even responsible plan. It’s unsafe for our employees as well as our citizens.I would also start telling the good stories these professionals are accomplishing on every media front at our reach. We need to have the community see this change and empower our employees to continue to serve, knowing they have their leadership behind them and the public’s trust.WATKINS: We have to ensure that nepotism and cronyism never get in the way of our requirement to support Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Search & Rescue and the primary responsibility of law enforcement.NFH: Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation which would legalize marijuana nationwide and eliminate criminal penalties for anyone who manufacturers, distributes or possesses it. What is your opinion?MAXWELL: As sheriff, I will always have to adapt to laws, but more importantly I need to protect the citizens of El Paso County. With this type of drug activity, we will and have seen an increase in human trafficking, home invasions as well as other types of criminal activity closely associated to the marijuana grows and distribution sites, and some of these crimes have resulted in very violent crimes against our citizens as well as other white-collar crimes. Also, by listening to our citizens, Iím hearing there are concerns, such as a decline in water resources for our farmers. These illegal grows release chemicals into our water system. Not to mention the strain on our schools dealing with teaching English as a second language. Neighborhoods that deal with these criminals have homes destroyed from these type of activities, creating an unsafe environment and often affecting the housing market in those neighborhoods.WATKINS: From a Constitutional purist point of view, such legislation is reserved to the states and not really the place of the federal government (10th Amendment). Having said that, such broad sweeping legislation would be irresponsible. My career in border security provides me a different lens with which to look at this, and I see it empowering and enriching transnational criminal organizations (cartels). Coloradoís own legalization of marijuana has already provided these criminal syndicates with these types of opportunities; similar federal legislation would exponentially exacerbate these problems.NFH: What else would you like the public to know about you?MAXWELL: Strong leadership:† As a dedicated and respected servant leader, I have the skills and reputation to make this happen. I have the relationships needed with our state and federal partners, as well as our business community, to make this a reality.† Unmatched Experience: The experience I have both inside the walls of the Sheriff’s Office (20 years in law enforcement) and outside as a successful businessman and entrepreneur (30 years in construction), give me the skills and innovation needed to get things done. Total devotion: I am committed to restoring employee morale and trust in their leadership, on the streets, and in the jail.†I am the strongest Christian conservative Republican in this race. Servant leadership: I am your servant leader, as I serve the people of El Paso County because I am accountable to the people of El Paso County.†Innovation: I have demonstrated that I can get things done.†Positive change: I have tons of support within the Sheriff’s Office and will be a fresh and impartial leader when elected.(719) 789-2822https://www.gregmaxwellforsheriff.comOn Facebook-www.facebook.com/gregmaxwellforsheriffOn YouTube-Greg Maxwell for El Paso County Sheriff – YouTubeOn Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/maxwell4sheriffWATKINS: My website is toddwatkinsforsheriff.com. My email is toddwatkinsforsheriff@gmail.com. I can be reached at 719-728-8724.
