El Paso County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Oscar Ugarte
Sheriff Ugarte is a first-generation American born to Mexican parents and raised in El Paso, Texas. A proud graduate of Ysleta High School, Sheriff Ugarte discovered his passion for law enforcement early on through his high school’s law enforcement program. This passion led him to begin his career at the age of 19 with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, as a Corrections Officer.

In 2005, Sheriff Ugarte earned his Peace Officer license from the State of Texas and joined the City of Socorro as a Police Officer. He furthered his career in 2007 by serving as a Court Bailiff for the El Paso County Council of Judges. In 2011, he joined the El Paso County Constable’s Office as a Deputy Constable. His dedication to public service and leadership led him to run for Constable in Precinct 1 in 2016, where he was successfully elected and later re-elected in 2019.

Sheriff Ugarte holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Master of Science in Criminal Justice, with certificates in Administration of Justice and Cyber Security-Threat Detection. He also earned a certificate in Terrorism and Homeland Security from Park University and has completed over 3,000 hours of accredited law enforcement training through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Among his professional certifications are Civil Process Proficiency, Court Security Specialist, Basic Instructor Proficiency, Mental Health Officer, and a Master Peace Officer License. He is also a graduate of the Texas Constable Leadership College and attended Sam Houston State University’s Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.

Throughout his career, Sheriff Ugarte has served in numerous leadership roles. He has been an active member of the TCOLE Regional Training Academy Advisory Board, the El Paso County Courthouse Emergency Action Planning Committee, the El Paso County Executive Crisis Planning Team, the Texas Association of Counties Core Legislative Group, the TCOLE Court Security Curriculum Committee, and the El Paso County Courthouse Security Committee. He also served as District Director on the Board of Directors for the Justice of the Peace and Constables Association.

Sheriff Ugarte, elected as El Paso County Sheriff in 2024, is dedicated to building a safer and more resilient community through innovative, transparent, and community-focused law enforcement. His priorities include providing adequate resources and support for detention officers and deputies, collaborating with all law enforcement agencies to enhance public safety, and creating a civilian social services unit to address mental health and crisis intervention needs. His leadership embodies a lifelong commitment to serving El Paso County with integrity, professionalism, and an unwavering focus on the well-being of its residents.