experience matters

As the elected Pitkin County Sheriff, I currently lead approximately seventy paid county deputies and employees, along with thirty Mountain Rescue Volunteers.  During my 37-year career, my leadership experience includes the management of many large-scale incidents including X Games, presidential visits, wildfires, pro cycling bike races, river flooding, aircraft accidents, murder investigations and much more. 

I have also had the privilege to serve as a board member of the County Sheriffs of Colorado from 2017-2020, and currently sit on the Pitkin County Public Safety Board as well as the Communications Board.

Over the last seven years I have volunteered by time by helping organizations like the Hope Center, Huts for Vets, and COVID relief for local restaurant workers via the annual Sheriff's Cup fundraiser. I am proud to have helped raise both awareness and over $600,000 in donations for these amazing organizations. I look forward to continuing this event in my next term.

In the greatest time of need, our community deserves a Sheriff who knows how to take command and has the experience to ensure public safety. I have built an organization that is well respected in our community, from an undersheriff who values technology and forward thinking, to a director of operations who has years of experience as both a deputy and firefighter and is valued by the team of deputies I have enlisted. 

I have worked my way through every rank within the Sheriff's Office. And as the Sheriff, my role has evolved and my responsibilities have increased. My main responsibility is no longer operational, I’m no longer on the streets making arrests. I’m now an administrator and leader of this organization. I sit on boards, meet with other elected officials and oversee the management of an approximate $12 million dollar budget. I also focus on the seventy people that work for me, and ensure they have what they need to effectively do the best job they can. This includes things like, safe working conditions, good equipment, pay and compensation, proper training, and recruiting deputies that reflect this community's values. 

The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office has five divisions, each is supervised by highly trained leaders who I empower to make decisions. It is my responsibility to maintain a thirty-thousand foot view of the organization and the people I trust to manage the individual divisions. My most important job is setting the philosophical tone of this organization. I strongly believe the police should reflect its community members and my most important job is hiring deputies that reflect this community. 

Some might not completely agree with every decision I make, but I will always put the needs of our community first. No matter the age, rank, race, or differences in our community, we still remain just that: a community.

• 37 years continuous service in Pitkin County public safety with 12 of those years as Pitkin County Sheriff
• Understands the workings of Government
• Established leadership of the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office
• Experience managing multi-million dollar PCSO budgets, Deputies, Jail, Courthouse, Emergency Services and Large-Scale Incidents