The Support Services Bureau within the Hays County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) encompasses multiple divisions.

Narcotics

The Hays County Narcotics Unit is part of the Support Services Division, which is commanded by Lt. Joe Faulkner (joe.faulkner@co.hays.tx.us). The Narcotics Unit conducts both covert and overt criminal investigations of persons who are suspected of violating the Texas Health and Safety Code as well as the Texas Penal Code.

These investigations involve multiple different types of investigative techniques that range from tips received by members of the community to surveillance and the purchase of narcotics from suspected dealers and members of drug trafficking organizations.

Narcotic Investigators assigned to the unit conduct interviews of suspects and witnesses; apply for and execute search warrants; complete reports and present the findings of the investigation to the Hays County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

The goal of the Narcotics Unit is to investigate all violations of applicable laws that pertain to the sale and/or distribution of narcotics within Hays County, apprehend criminals that violate these laws, and present the prosecuting attorney with the best case possible to ultimately convict persons responsible for their crimes ensuring that communities within Hays County are kept safe from illegal narcotic activity.

Warrants

How can you find out if you have a warrant? Check on this website if it is an existing charge. If it’s a new charge, you can have a bail bondsman or your attorney email us on official letterhead. The warrants unit will not release information via telephone or email (other than attorneys or bail bondsmen) about warrants regarding new charges.

Emergency Communications

The Hays County Combined Emergency Communications Center (CECC) is the centralized hub for swift and efficient emergency response within Hays County. The center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The CECC Director is Stephanie Robinson. The HCSO Commander is Lt. Todd Riffe.

Working 12 hour shifts, staffing averages two radio dispatchers and three call takers. Our Emergency Communications Officers process and disseminate calls for service for the Hays County Sheriff's Office, Buda Police Department, five Constable Offices, six Fire Departments, three emergency medical services agencies and five judicial precincts.

On any given day our ECOs process an average of 600 calls for service. In 2023, our ECOs answered 189,443 phone calls from the public, resulting in 143,035 calls for service. This includes 102,969 law enforcement calls, and 40,035 fire and EMS calls for service, some of which need all three responding simultaneously.

Always focused on public service and dedication to their communities, our ECOs work tirelessly to make sure in times of need, all calls are answered. This includes major weather events, such as the Wimberley Floods, winter storms such as the unprecedented freeze in 2021, and numerous Wildland Task Force wildland fires. Hays County ECOs work closely with Hays County Office of Emergency Services to make sure the public is updated with life-saving information during these events. 

ECOs work hand in hand with HCSO deputies to provide assistance to victims of crime and circumstance, including victims of assault, child victims, and elderly victims. Our ECOs may be tasked with answering over 100 phone calls for a major collision on a highway such as the IH 35 corridor or US 290.

In addition, our ECOs process officer-initiated activities such as community contacts, traffic enforcement, civil process services by Hays County Constables, and calls for our Animal Control Services.

Along with our Hays County SROs, our ECOs serve three school districts, approximately 25 schools, and help with training the school staff to make sure your children are safe in the event of an emergency. This includes training for the countywide Standard Response Protocol.

Criminal Investigations

The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) is commanded by Lt. Mike Briggs, 512-393-7822. CID is responsible for criminal investigations in Hays County. The division also includes Victim Services, headed by Coordinator Beatrice Moreno (512-393-7817), and Evidence. 

If you need to retrieve property from Evidence, please contact the evidence supervisor, Melody Jaramio, 512-393-7816 to make arrangements.

There are three investigative units within CID:

General Assignments East (Kyle, Buda, and San Marcos)

Sgt. David Marshall

512-393-7787

General Assignments West (Dripping Springs and Wimberley)

Sgt. Mark Opiela

512-393-7889

Special Victims (Crimes Against Children) and Auto Theft

Sgt. Gene Carranza

512-393-7782

With the exception of crimes against children and auto theft, all other criminal cases are assigned to General Assignments Units. 

Training Academy

The Hays County Sheriff’s Academy (HCSA)/Training Division is comprised of a Training Coordinator, Law Enforcement Sergeant, Law Enforcement Corporal, Law Enforcement Deputy, Corrections Officer Sergeant, and a Corrections Officer.

The HCSA is responsible for training all sworn Law Enforcement and Corrections personnel in various topics along with state and agency required in-service. The HCSA also provides training to personnel from other agencies in the area and is responsible for training law enforcement cadets in the Basic Peace Officer Course, which consists of nearly 1,000 hours of training per cadet.

The HCSA also offers full basic peace officer academies. A portion of topics covered by the HCSA include:

• Control Tactics
• Vehicle Operations
• Driving
• Patrol Response
• ALERRT
• Firearms Training

Contact the Training Division by email or call our Training Coordinator, Mindi Duckworth, at 512-393-7809.

Mental Health

Visit the HCSO Mental Health Resources page.