The Vision

We are in an exciting time for our community and a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Eagle County Sheriff's Office. With the growing demands of our community, the need for innovative lateral thinking and a clear, practical vision is necessary.

Understanding the Current Landscape

Before diving into the vision, it is essential to understand the current landscape of the Eagle County Sheriff's Office. Eagle County covers 1,692 square miles and is home to a diverse population, with a mix of urban and rural communities. Encompassed by geography as diverse as its people, the county includes National Forest, Wilderness areas, and BLM lands that define much of its footprint. Of these 1,692 square miles, one section is especially meaningful to me: the El Jebel and Basalt area in the southwest corner of the county, accessible only by driving through another county or over a pass that is only accessible seasonally. I served as a road deputy for the Eagle County Sheriff's Office in this area and lived in the Roaring Fork Valley, giving me a firsthand understanding of its needs. Due to its geography, location along the I‑70 corridor, and regional airport, Eagle County faces unique public safety challenges.

Community Demographics

Eagle County's diversity - in its people, communities, and terrain - demands a thoughtful, tailored approach to law enforcement that ensures every resident feels safe, heard, respected, and genuinely represented.

Current Challenges

The current Sheriff's Office faces several challenges, including:

Resource Allocation:

Limited resources and staffing concerns hinder the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts and the service it can provide effectively to our communities.

Community and local law enforcement relations:

Building trust within the community and collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners at the command level is crucial for effective policing.

Crime Trends:

Addressing crime through lateral thinking means moving beyond traditional, linear responses and examining trends from multiple angles to identify smarter, root‑cause solutions to enhance long‑term public safety.

My Vision: A Roadmap for Change

My vision for the Eagle County Sheriff's Office is clear, necessary, and practical, centered on five main pillars: safety; staffing; community trust and transparency; constitutional, equitable policing; and technology integration. Each of these pillars, in unison, is essential to creating a responsive, effective, and modern law enforcement agency that serves every corner of Eagle County.

Safety

We will prioritize Eagle County's safety through continued effective law enforcement practices, ensure unified leadership, while promoting collaboration to address community needs through community collaboration and steering committees. Our approach will focus on improving overall response through data-driven decision-making and expanding community-based problem-solving.

Resource Allocation

To effectively serve the community, the Sheriff's Office must optimize its resources. This includes:

Building staffing and a healthy internal culture: Implementing a modern command structure with a unified focus on recruitment, retention, and training that aligns with clear values and expectations. Prioritizing officer wellness, leadership development, and meaningful growth through both lateral and vertical opportunities. By embracing lateral thinking and strong command support, line-level supervisors are empowered to fully support deputies and staff in their roles.
Staff Training and Development: The Office will invest in ongoing, high-quality training so deputies are equipped to handle a wide variety of situations. They can plan their futures through career-focused development and internal lateral or vertical movement, building a sustainable, strong team that promotes succession and allows future leaders to emerge.
Budget Management: Careful budget management will identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety, training, or overall office development. This will allow the office to invest in initiatives that support long-term growth and service to the community.

Community and Local Enforcement Engagement

Building strong relationships with the community and our local law enforcement partners is at the heart of my vision. This includes:

Regular community meetings: Hosting town halls and forums, and showing up at community-led events to discuss safety, address concerns, and gather honest feedback.
Regular meetings with local law enforcement: Holding consistent command-level meetings with local agencies to listen, identify gaps, and improve our shared response to the communities we serve.
Partnerships with local organizations: Collaborating with schools, nonprofits, and businesses to create a strong network of support for community safety initiatives.
Volunteer programs: Encouraging community members to participate in volunteer programs that support law enforcement efforts and strengthen the relationship between deputies and the public.

Constitutional, equitable policing

Protecting rights first: Ensuring every contact, detention, search, and use of force is grounded in the constitution, state law, and clearly established case law, regardless of who the person is. This will be reinforced through regular policy updates, meetings, and training in close collaboration with the County Attorney's Office and the District Attorney's Office.
Fair and unbiased treatment: Requiring that decisions about enforcement, discretion, and services are free from discrimination, with policies, training, and supervision aimed at preventing bias and disparate impacts.
Transparency and accountability: Maintaining clear policies, documentation, and review processes that align with state statutes so community members can see how and why decisions are made, and how misconduct is addressed.
Community input in policy: Involving community members and stakeholders in the development and review of key policies, especially those that affect civil liberties and vulnerable populations.

Technology Integration

In an increasingly digital world, leveraging technology with thoughful implementation is essential. My vision includes:

Data-driven policing: Utilizing data analytics to identify crime trends and allocate resources effectively, using data as a starting point and then looking deeper at patterns, root causes, and community "pressure points" instead of reacting only to surface-level statistics.
Pair data with creativity: Combine evidence‑based analysis with innovative problem‑solving, exploring nontraditional strategies and partnerships to address crime before it happens.
Prevent and reduce repeat calls: Focus on solutions that reduce repeat calls for service and address underlying issues, improving the quality of life for residents while easing the burden on deputies.
Blend enforcement and collaboration: Integrate smart, targeted enforcement with strong community collaboration to ensure crime strategies are effective, fair, and sustainable over time.
Community apps: Developing mobile applications that allow residents to report issues and stay informed about local safety initiatives.

Expected Outcomes

Enhanced community trust

By prioritizing community engagement, transparency, and collaboration, the Sheriff's Office will strengthen trust with residents across all of Eagle County's diverse communities. This trust is essential for effective, constitutional, and equitable policing. It will encourage greater cooperation in reporting crime, sharing concerns, and participating in safety initiatives that keep both residents and deputies safer.

Improved public safety and crime trends

With a focus on safety, data‑driven approaches, lateral thinking, and thoughtful use of technology, the Sheriff's Office will address challenges proactively rather than reactively. By aligning smart enforcement, strong community partnerships, and efficient resource use, the office can reduce crime, improve response times, and build safer neighborhoods and roadways across the county.

Stronger staffing and internal culture

Investing in staffing, leadership development, wellness, and high‑quality, ongoing training strengthens both performance and morale. When deputies feel supported, well‑equipped, and able to advance through clear career pathways in a healthy internal culture, they are more likely to stay, deliver high‑quality service, and grow into the next generation of leaders within the Sheriff's Office.

Greater accountability and sustainability

Operations grounded in constitutional, equitable policing and transparent practices, supported by modern technology and sound budget management, will make the Sheriff's Office more accountable and sustainable over time. Clear policies, open communication, and responsible resource use help ensure the agency can adapt to changing needs while maintaining the public's confidence.

Conclusion

My vision for the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office is a comprehensive, forward approach to modern law enforcement that reflects the needs and values of this community. By focusing on safety, strong internal culture, community trust and transparency, constitutional and equitable policing, and thoughtful technology integration, the office will be prepared to meet today’s challenges while planning responsibly for tomorrow.

This vision can only succeed with genuine partnership from the people who live and work here. Residents are encouraged to take part in community meetings, share their experiences and ideas, and stay engaged in shaping how their Sheriff’s Office serves them. Together, we can build a safer, more connected, and more resilient Eagle County for everyone.