Sheriff ’s boat proposal gets deepsixed.

Tension filled the Doubleheight Courtroom during an otherwise civil meeting Tuesday as Bexar County Commissioner Trish Deberry balked at Sheriff Javier Salazar's request for approval of a $20,000 donation to purchase a rescue and recovery boat.

Deberry, the only Republican on the Commissioners Court and a first-term member who has consistently critiqued Salazar's handling of the Bexar County Jail, said it was wrong to bring a request for a “shiny new toy,” using money from the Bexar County Sheriff's Foundation, when there were other needs, such as equipment for deputies.

She pulled the item from a consent agenda and was incensed that Salazar had not discussed it with commissioners.

“My feeling is that this boat is a ‘nice to have,' but not a ‘need to have' right now,” during the pandemic, Deberry said. “I'm going to be blunt here. I think it's insulting, and I think it's insensitive that you're spending $20,000 on a shiny new toy, or a boat.”

Salazar, a Democrat who was recently re-elected, said the purchase would be the first major outlay of money from the foundation created two years ago, overseen by a board of directors and maintained by the San Antonio Area Foundation, to fund nonbudgeted items such as equipment for the sheriff 's honor guard or mounted patrol.

The foundation doesn't receive taxpayer funds.

He said the department has had to borrow watercraft from other agencies when searching for a body or stolen vehicle submerged in a lake or pond. The sheriff's office responds to calls on Calaveras and Braunig lakes as well as for high-water rescues.

“It's not a shiny new toy. It's something that we've seen a need for,” the sheriff said.

The request was for an aluminum boat for up to five people, with an onboard generator and 150-horsepower motor, and a cruising speed of 37 mph. The purchase would include emergency services training for two operators. Any remaining costs would be paid through the sheriff 's asset forfeiture fund.

Deberry said the gifted funds could be better spent on boots, uniforms and peace officer licenses for new deputies, to improve recruiting and retention.

“From a priority standpoint, I think this is a distraction. This is fiefdom-building when you need to be very focused, and laser-focused, on the problem that we have at the jail, and regarding the reduction that you had in force on the law enforcement side,” after recent budget cuts, she said.

Salazar offered to withdraw the request and said he felt he was being attacked.

“I believe the need is there. But when it's used as an excuse to bring me up and attack me yet again, we'll just kill the item,” the sheriff said.

Deberry interrupted “Whoa! Time out!”

“This is not an excuse to attack you. This is an opportunity for you to provide details regarding why you need this and enhance communication when you come to this court,” she shot back.

Other commissioners supported delaying action until Salazar could provide more details on operation, liability, storage and maintenance of the boat. him: