Undersheriff Paul Zani
Undersheriff Paul Zani is a 25 year veteran of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Paul began his career in July 1983, as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the Metro Detention Facility. As a Deputy, Paul worked in various assignments throughout the Office to include Court and Transport and the Intake and Release section. He was also assigned to the Criminal Justice Center Planning Team writing policy and procedures for the new Criminal Justice Center that opened in 1988. As a Deputy, Paul became a member of the Sheriff’s Office Hazardous Materials Team. He received extensive training in this area and became one of our most knowledgeable HazMat technicians.
His promotion to Sergeant occurred in 1987, followed with a promotion to Lieutenant in 1991. As a Sergeant he worked detention security and was a member of the Jail Transition Team, training detention deputies in Emergency Procedures. Paul was also a Use of Force Instructor and developed our first Use of Force and Restraint Continuums. As a Lieutenant assigned to the Inmate Classification Section, he was instrumental in the development of our present National Institute of Corrections Objective Jail Classification System and developed our present Inmate Fraud Program, which has resulted in over a million dollars in Social Security and Welfare payments being suspended from ineligible inmates.
As a Lieutenant he supervised the Personnel Unit and Sheriff’s Office Training Academy. Paul recognized the need and implemented the first annual in-service training for civilian employees. His promotion to Commander occurred in 1999, followed with a promotion to Bureau Chief in 2001. As a Commander he has worked in the Professional Standards Division and then transferred to the Investigations Division. While assigned to Investigations, they had a 100% homicide solve rate, cleared a 1974, cold homicide case, and obtained 27 Federal Indictments in a 1999, homicide case. As a Bureau Chief, Paul’s first assignment was the Support Services Bureau where he was responsible for a budget in excess of 35 million dollars. He later transferred to the Law Enforcement Bureau for a three year assignment followed by a transfer to the Detention Bureau. During his assignment in Detentions he was tasked with obtaining accreditation of our present detention facility through the American Corrections Association new Fourth Edition. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Justice Center was the first in the state to receive such accreditation.
Paul is a 2003, graduate of the 213th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. In his off-duty time, Paul is an avid hunter, enjoys skiing, motorcycling, snowmobiling and playing with his grandchildren.
Please email me with questions: paulzani@elpasoco.com