The Boulder County Drug Task Force, established in 1988 and managed under the auspices of the Sheriff’s Office, is a multi-agency law enforcement task force whose primary focus is to investigate violations of state and federal drug laws.
The Boulder County Drug Task Force (BCDTF)
The BCDTF is comprised of detectives, supervisors, and personnel from:
- Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
- Boulder Police Department
- Erie Police Department
- Lafayette Police Department
- Boulder District Attorney’s Office
The Drug Task Force also serves the towns of Lyons, Nederland, and Superior, as the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office provides contract law enforcement services to these communities.
Establishing a task force enabled the participating agencies to reduce the number of detectives in their individual narcotics units, allowing staff to be reassigned to other functions. This reallocation saves money and increases the efficiency and effectiveness of drug investigations and other cases requiring the skills and equipment of the BCDTF.
The BCDTF is comprised of
- Six detectives
- Two sergeants
- A commander
- An administrative support position
- Two Deputy District Attorneys
Detectives are assigned to the Task Force for three to five years before rotating back to their respective agencies. During their assignment, they receive extensive training in drug investigations and related skills. They also complete a 40-hour certification course in Clandestine Lab Response and Investigation, hosted by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA), along with ongoing in-service training, which includes:
- Case law review
- Officer safety
- Defensive tactics
- Firearms proficiency
- Surveillance techniques
- Building entry and search techniques, etc.
Drug investigations require complex and unconventional law enforcement strategies. Detectives are chosen for their knowledge, skills, and ability to integrate into the drug cultures present in the community. They generate investigative leads from confidential and anonymous sources, as well as concerned community members. These detectives must be capable of operating in high-risk, rapidly changing environments beyond typical law enforcement settings. A strong understanding of criminal case law related to arrest, search, and seizure is essential, along with sound judgment and the ability to think quickly under pressure.
Contact
To report drug activity, speak with a Drug Task Force member, or request additional information, contact the Boulder County Drug Task Force at 303-441-1690, or email DrugTaskForceInfo@bouldercounty.gov.
