{"id":16319,"date":"2025-10-01T00:06:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T00:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/the-sheriff-the-commissioner-and-the-ai-critic-who-has-all-the-facts\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:56:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:56:21","slug":"the-sheriff-the-commissioner-and-the-ai-critic-who-has-all-the-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/the-sheriff-the-commissioner-and-the-ai-critic-who-has-all-the-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"The sheriff, the commissioner and the AI critic \u2013 who has all the facts?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The
The Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners meets about the Sheriff\u2019s Office budget on Nov. 19, 2024. (Aaron Lewis\/Special to the Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, an apparently AI-generated video criticizing Montezuma County\u2019s spending on public safety circulated online, stirring frustration from the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Jim Candelaria told The Journal<\/em> the video leaves out key facts, leading to a misleading narrative. Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin said the video gets the facts right.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people don\u2019t even have a rudimentary understanding of our government structure,\u201d said Candelaria. \u201cBut yet they are out to curse us and cut us in every shape, fashion or form.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheriff Nowlin had a different take: \u201cThe information that\u2019s in there? It\u2019s true,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s factual.\u201d<\/p>\n

The BOCC voiced disapproval of online criticisms during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, under an agenda item titled \u201cAddress Social Media Misinformation.\u201d Commissioners also decided to turn off comments for some posts on the county\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Kent Lindsay called the AI video \u201ca hit piece.\u201d Candelaria referred to \u201ckeyboard warriors\u201d who \u201ccreate misinformation, hate and discontent,\u201d adding that those who want to know what the BOCC is doing should attend public meetings. He said the board has been \u201cabsolutely transparent.\u201d<\/p>\n

A YouTube video criticizes the commissioners\u2019 decision making<\/div>\n

During the Sept. 2 meeting, Lindsay brought up the circulating YouTube video<\/a> uploaded on Aug. 28, titled \u201cMontezuma County Facts vs Priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 4\u00bd-minute video features a synthetic voice and describes the county\u2019s finances in a critical tone. It questions decisions made by the commissioners and argues those choices have reduced public safety resources \u2013 namely, less money for the Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

The narrator says the public is often told Montezuma County is running out of money, yet each year since 2019 has seen increases in the general fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we ask about public safety in Montezuma County, we should remember this: The issue isn\u2019t that the county can\u2019t afford it,\u201d the video states. \u201cThe issue is how our leaders are choosing to prioritize the resources we already have.\u201d<\/p>\n

The video, which had about 150 views as of Aug. 28, had grown to more than 1,800 views by Tuesday afternoon. The creator remains unknown. YouTube lists the creator\u2019s profile as \u201cJack Eagle.\u201d<\/p>\n

County reserves largely from federal funds; commissioner says needs must be prioritized over wants<\/div>\n

Montezuma County\u2019s general fund grew from $18.2 million in 2019 to more than $29 million in 2024, an $11 million increase, annual audits show<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Montezuma County general fund balance changes 2019-2024YearGeneral fundDollar change from previous yearPercentage change from previous year2019$18,243,671+$2,643,213+16.9% 2020$18,289,825+$46,154+0.25%2021$21,338,589 +$3,048,764+16.6%2022$23,057,229 +$1,718,640+8% 2023$26,833,260 +$3,776,031+16.4% 2024$29,053,302 +$2,220,042+8.3%<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In an interview with The Journal, <\/em>Candelaria acknowledged the growth but said it stemmed largely from federal awards. Robert Dobry, the county\u2019s budget and finance manager, also confirmed this fact.<\/p>\n

Audits identify \u201cmajor programs\u201d of federal funds, including more than $2.5 million in \u201cCoronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds\u201d in 2022.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the \u201cLocal Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund\u201d \u2013 American Rescue Plan Act money the county qualified for due to shared revenue sources with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe \u2013 brought in more than $3 million in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the audited financials are on record,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s very transparent and anybody can look at them. So, that rise did happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Candelaria said BOCC spending decisions must account for unpredictable funding sources. Commissioners prioritize state-mandated services over discretionary spending.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt some point in time we might be able to fund some of the wants. I don\u2019t have any issue with that at all. But let\u2019s take care of our needs first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cuts to the Community Intervention Program<\/a>, a previously active emergency response team, were also mentioned in the AI video.<\/p>\n

When the CIP was initially funded, commissioners were told more money would be found later. But that never happened, Candelaria said, leaving the program unable to continue.<\/p>\n

Sheriff and commissioner don\u2019t see eye to eye<\/div>\n

The AI video also refers to an independent analysis of the Sheriff\u2019s Office that describes understaffing and a resulting safety hazard, concluding with a recommendation for 14 additional deputies.<\/p>\n

A copy of the report obtained by The Journal<\/em> confirms the finding.<\/p>\n

The BOCC commissioned the report in November 2024 after disagreements with the sheriff over the law enforcement budget.<\/p>\n

Nowlin said his office has faced budget cuts over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a real hindering to the operations of the Sheriff\u2019s Office to provide the services throughout the county,\u201d Nowlin told The Journal<\/em>. \u201cWe cannot get current balance levels in line items in the Sheriff\u2019s budget and detention\u2019s budget,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s always about a month behind. Commissioner Candelaria seems to disagree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Montezuma
Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThe Sheriff\u2019s Office net decrease from 2022 to 2024 was $277,552, or a net decrease of 6.68% in funds available to the Sheriff\u2019s Office, excluding the jail, which remained fairly stable,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n

Candelaria said cuts followed findings of underspending in the Sheriff\u2019s Office. According to the report, in 2023, close to $700,000 of the office\u2019s budget went unused.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, the sheriff contends that much of the underspending was due to the fact that he was unable to attract and retain deputies,\u201d the report reads. Nowlin agreed with this.<\/p>\n

Candelaria said understaffing stems from how Nowlin has run the department. He said Nowlin has chosen to police outside what is statutorily required.<\/p>\n

Candelaria pointed to a recorded November 2023 meeting with Dolores officials, where Nowlin acknowledged budget cuts but reassured attendees that law enforcement would be present regardless of a contract.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not going to abandon this town no matter what,\u201d Nowlin said during that meeting. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you whether you wanna sign that or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the report, by the end of 2023, talks between the county, the Sheriff\u2019s Office and Dolores failed to produce a contract for 2024. The absent contract also led to a decrease in the sheriff\u2019s funds that year.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder no circumstances should the service be provided without a contract in place,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n

Candelaria also noted that county residents were asked last November to vote on a 1% public safety sales tax that would have helped fund the Sheriff\u2019s Office. That tax would have brought in more than $8 million, but voters rejected it.<\/p>\n

Out of 14,421 votes, just under 43% voted \u201cyes\u201d and about 57% voted \u201cno,\u201d according to election records<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nowlin said the sales tax would have provided vital funds and eased tensions between himself and the commissioners \u2013 \u201cso long as they spent it right \u2013 that was the question that kept getting brought up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Different answers from commissioners about how the sales tax would be spent \u201ccaused a lot of questions and distrust,\u201d Nowlin said.<\/p>\n

Pay remains a sticking point<\/div>\n

When it comes to the Sheriff\u2019s Office budget, a consistent issue is employee compensation.<\/p>\n

Nowlin said the commissioners initiated the report \u201cbecause they wouldn\u2019t work with me on trying to increase their pay and benefits (for law enforcement officers).\u201d<\/p>\n

More recently, Nowlin said collective bargaining negotiations are active between the BOCC and the Fraternal Order of Police.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey know that they\u2019re probably gonna be forced to increase their pay and benefits,\u201d Nowlin said. Still, he believes the BOCC will likely keep the same bottom line.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf salaries go up, other things are going to be reduced to keep it the same,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Commissioner says that AI critic leaves out key details of Sheriff\u2019s Office report and county budget; sheriff says the critic tells the truth <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[28,29],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-16319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-headlines","tag-newsletter"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16319"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20135,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16319\/revisions\/20135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16319"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=16319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}