Dear Editor,

For the last five years I have been employed by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Department under the leadership of Sheriff Tom Dalessandri. He is a terrific leader, always conducting county and department business conservatively and with the utmost integrity, giving his all for his employees and the citizens of Garfield County.

Sheriff Dalessandri truly cares for his employees and all the citizens he and his department serve. The new Garfield County Detention Facility, which he spent endless hours researching and planning so we’d have a jail that was best for the county and the taxpayers’ budget, is a monument to that caring.

Since Sheriff Dalessandri began his first term in office eight years ago, he has implemented many programs and sought grants to bring in revenues to help relieve taxpayer burden. Grants received since 1998 of more than $1 million include an investigations grant, juvenile holding renovations grant, and grants for bulletproof vests, a fingerprint machine and a portable radar screen for traffic control and safety.

For the last three years, I have worked with the inmate cost of care program implemented by Sheriff Dalessandri. Sentenced inmates pay $15 per day for a portion of their housing costs. This usually is paid via monthly installments following an inmate’s release. Since inception in January 2000, our program has brought in more than $128,000. This year, ex-inmates have paid Garfield County more than $53,000. This helps the taxpayers and promotes persons taking responsibility for their actions.

Another way that Sheriff Dalessandri is helping taxpayers is through the proposal he made to the Garfield County Commissioners for all sentenced municipal inmates to pay $15 cost of care for each day housed from date of sentencing forward. Therefore, municipalities are paying $15 per day for their pre-sentenced prisoners only.

Let’s give Sheriff Tom Dalessandri another four years as our sheriff to continue his tireless efforts on our behalf!

Andrea Faudree

Grand Junction