Operations Division

Sheriff’s deputies have law enforcement authority throughout Boulder County, an area encompassing nearly 740 square miles of some of the most diverse topography, industry, and demographics found anywhere. From the High Plains to the Continental Divide; from rolling wheat fields to snowcapped peaks towering over 14,000 feet; from ghost towns to bustling urban communities; from hard rock mining to high-tech research and development, Boulder County has it all.

With a population exceeding 330,000 people, the Sheriff’s Office has primary law enforcement authority for the County’s unincorporated area (i.e. outside municipal city limits) and the Towns of Nederland, Lyons and Superior. The Sheriff’s Office “direct service population” is about 60,000 permanent residents, plus the tens of thousands of people who transit Boulder County for business and pleasure every day.

The Patrol Section is responsible for providing law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of Boulder County and the towns of Lyons, Nederland, and Superior on a 24 hour a day, seven day a week basis. Deputies provide coverage to the roughly 650 square miles of unincorporated (the areas outside of incorporated cities) area within the 740 square miles of the county. The county is divided into seven patrol districts, with teams of deputies are assigned to each district.

Given the amount of terrain they must cover, deputies are trained to handle most events on their own and are expected to function independently. They are given additional training in the processing and preservation of crime scenes, though in some circumstances a detective may be called to respond to provide additional expertise. Additionally, most misdemeanor crimes are assigned to patrol deputies for follow-up, therefore freeing detectives to work on felony case investigations.

While deputies have law enforcement authority within the municipalities, their efforts are generally directed to unincorporated areas, except for the Towns of Lyons, Nederland, and Superior, which contract with the Sheriff for public safety services.

The Property and Evidence section handles all property that is booked at the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. This section is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the evidence and works closely with deputies, municipal prosecutors, the district attorney’s office, and municipal, county and district courts.
To reclaim property from the Property and Evidence section, you must call 303-441-3629, Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., to make an appointment.

All property is released by appointment only.

The Property and Evidence section is located at 5600 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO. 80301 (on the eastside of the building)

The Detective Section is charged with investigating felony crimes, domestic violence incidents, structure fire investigations, unattended deaths, and other matters that require substantial time and resources to resolve. Narcotics and drug trafficking cases are investigated by the County’s multi-agency Boulder County Drug Task Force (BCDTF). Two supervisors and two detectives are assigned to the BCDTF.

The Detective Section is staffed by three supervisors, 13 detectives, a crime scene investigator (CSI), a Crime Analyst, and three Property and Evidence Technicians.

An additional supervisor and two detectives are assigned to the Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab (DFL). The multi-jurisdiction DFL is housed at the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building and is tasked with investigating child sexual exploitation cases and provides digital forensics expertise and analysis on a wide range of cases.

Fleet Management Services

Ensuring Operational Readiness Across the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Fleet Management team is dedicated to maintaining a safe, reliable, and efficient fleet of vehicles to support law enforcement and civilian operations. Our work is vital to ensuring that personnel always remain mobile and mission ready.

Core Responsibilities:

• Preventative Maintenance and Repairs – Perform routine inspections, oil changes, tire rotations, brake servicing, and other scheduled maintenance to ensure vehicle reliability.
• Emergency Repairs – Respond quickly to unexpected vehicle issues to minimize downtime and maintain operational readiness.
• Vehicle Upfitting – Install specialized law enforcement equipment including lights, sirens, radios, and protective gear.
• Inventory and Cost Management – Monitor vehicle usage, fuel consumption, and repair costs to promote efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Fleet Rotation and Replacement – Oversee the lifecycle of each vehicle, coordinate timely replacements, and procure new vehicles tailored to law enforcement needs.

Our team, consisting of two skilled mechanics and one fleet manager, is responsible for maintaining over 200 vehicles and pieces of equipment. Their efforts are critical to ensuring all Sheriff’s Office personnel have access to dependable transportation in service of public safety.

The Special Operations Section includes the Emergency Services Unit, Fire Management Office, and County Parks Unit.

The Emergency Services Section functions to meet the statutory responsibilities of the Sheriff in conducting search and rescue efforts and investigating hazardous materials incidents. Additionally, the members of this section act as a liaison to the other emergency service providers in Boulder County. This group is comprised of an emergency services supervisor and four emergency services coordinators.

The Fire Management Office meets the Sheriff’s statutory responsibilities related to the suppression of wildland fire, suppression and mitigation efforts in the unincorporated portions of the county. The group is comprised of two supervisors and 14 firefighters.

The County Parks Unit supplements Boulder County Parks and Open Space Rangers with routine patrols and conducts criminal investigations that stem from incidents occurring on Parks and Open Space property. This unit consists of a supervisor and four deputies.