Elder takes the oath, promises new, transparent direction at Sheriff’s Office

On the final day of 2014, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has a new leader.

To thunderous applause Bill Elder officially took the oath of office Wednesday morning.

A law enforcement vet, Elder now leads a department he holds very dear.

“This is my home,” Elder said. “I started at this office when I was 21 and spent the next 20 years working here. I know most of these people. They are hungry for a change in leadership.”

Some would argue over the past few months, former Sheriff Terry Maketa stained the office, and the county with allegations he had sexual relationships with three female employees and mishandled taxpayer money.

Maketa filed for early retirement earlier this month.

Elder hopes his office can begin to move past his predecessor’s alleged wrongdoing.

“Because of what’s gone on in the last 7 1/2 months it’s a distraction and I need to remove that distraction,” Elder said. “We have a business, a very dangerous business that we operate and we need to get back to the business of law enforcement.

El Paso County Commissioner Peggy Littleton — the first to call for Maketa’s resignation cannot think of a better way to ring in 2015.

“It’s obviously the best New Year’s gift to El Paso County,” Littleton said of Elder’s swearing in.

Elder’s official term begins January 13. Since Maketa took early retirement, Elder, the former deputy police chief of Fountain, was sworn in Wednesday.