Jefferson County Sheriff's Office · Quarter 1 2026
LEA Report
Law Enforcement Authority
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Quarter 1 2026 Law Enforcement Authority report covers events, staffing, response times, crime trends, and notable activity from January through March 2026.
Events & News
Highlights from the first quarter — testimony before the state legislature, lifesaving honors, the opening of the Evergreen Resiliency Center, and a national-news rescue on Highway 285.
Sheriff, Evergreen students & families testify before House Judiciary Committee
On March 18, the Colorado House Judiciary Committee heard HB26-1255, a bill developed through a partnership between Sheriff Reggie Marinelli, Rep. Tammy Story, and Sen. Lisa Cutter in response to the 2025 Evergreen High School shooting. The Sheriff's Office and Rep. Story were joined for the hearing by Evergreen students and family members who were impacted by the tragic event. The bill would require social media companies to respond to valid search warrants within 24 hours and report imminent threats of violence to law enforcement, aiming to help officers act faster while preserving judicial oversight and privacy protections. Under current Colorado law, social media companies can take up to 35 days to respond to a valid search warrant. "After learning that critical information existed before the Evergreen shooting but could not be accessed in time, we knew we had to act," said Sheriff Reggie Marinelli. "This legislation is about giving law enforcement the tools to respond faster when credible threats are identified and doing everything we can to prevent future tragedies."
Accreditation community feedback
In the first quarter, the JCSO began collecting community feedback. We continue to encourage people to share their comments or commendations about JCSO's service through a public portal provided by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. Comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.
Deputies receive special honor at awards ceremony
The JCSO holds an awards ceremony each year to recognize the great work done by our staff throughout the year. As we celebrated the accomplishments of 2025, there were many sworn and civilian staff members, as well as community members, who were acknowledged for their work on the Evergreen High School shooting. The highlight of the night was when Deputies Hammetter and DeNuzzi were given life saving awards — presented to them by shooting survivor Matthew Silverstone, whose life they helped to save. The other shooting survivor and their family were also at the ceremony to present awards to a group of civilians who helped tend to that student's injuries. We were honored to have the survivors and their families with us — it was a special and unforgettable night.
Evergreen In-Person Resiliency Center opens
In January, the Evergreen Resiliency Center — ERC — officially opened. Staffed by caring professionals, this is a place for students, faculty, families, and the community who were impacted by the Evergreen High School shooting on September 10, 2025. The ERC is designed to help people find and connect with services to help them throughout their healing journey: a place where students can find a calm corner or play games — even connect with other students; a place where faculty can unwind and take care of themselves after taking care of the students; and a place for the community impacted by the tragedy to come together and be Evergreen Strong. The Evergreen Resiliency Center is located in the yellow house at 5120 CO Road 73 in Evergreen.
Deputy actions after Highway 285 rollover make national news
Deputy Evans proved compassion is an action word on February 8, after responding to a rollover crash on southbound Highway 285. An SUV had flipped onto its roof, trapping the driver inside. The driver, Henry, was awake and talking but hanging upside down in his seat belt. With safety and time in mind, Deputy Evans, along with Deputies Burley and Carter, broke a window to reach him, opened the door, and carefully worked to free the driver's legs before helping him out. Deputies then moved the driver to a safe spot nearby until paramedics arrived. Henry was then taken to the hospital to be treated. The JCSO Public Affairs team posted the video of the rescue on social media, and it made a big splash locally and nationally. The video had more than 47,000 views, 1,000 reactions, and 100 comments. It was also featured on NBC Nightly News.
Staffing, Response Times & Emergency Management
As of March 31, the JCSO was 95.7% staffed with sworn personnel and 86.1% staffed with professional personnel. The vacancy rate for sworn personnel was 4.3% — below the 5% target.
Staffing the JCSO
As of March 31, the JCSO was considered 95.7% staffed with sworn personnel and 86.1% staffed with professional personnel. The annualized attrition rates through the first quarter were 12.2% for professional staff and 10.4% for sworn staff. Generally, an attrition rate between 5–10% is considered low and healthy. The vacancy rate for sworn personnel was 4.3%. The ideal vacancy rate is 5% or less.
- 1 Sheriff · 1 Undersheriff · 5 Division Chiefs · 21 Commanders · 56 Sergeants
- 47 Deputy Sheriff Investigators · 2 Special Unit Leads
- 426 Deputy Sheriff (POST) & Department Certified
- Total Funded: 559 sworn
Priority One calls
A Priority One call is a "call for service which is critical or in-progress, where immediate intervention is required to avert personal injury, or where prompt arrival is necessary to affect criminal apprehension." Response times can be very different for the three precincts, based on elements like staffing, geography, and weather. Mountain Precinct (10 min target) — Jan: 37 calls / 10:10 · Feb: 36 / 10:01 · Mar: 42 / 9:26 North Precinct (7 min target) — Jan: 46 / 8:51 · Feb: 46 / 9:10 · Mar: 53 / 9:20 South Precinct (5 min target) — Jan: 152 / 7:01 · Feb: 141 / 7:38 · Mar: 127 / 6:58
Emergency Services Section
Emergency Management hit the ground running this quarter, turning lessons learned from the December high wind and Public Safety Power Shutoff events into real improvements. We brought partners to the table for a formal debrief and after-action meeting, strengthening coordination with both internal teams and external stakeholders. In February, the team attended the Colorado Emergency Management Association Conference in Loveland — highlighted by a big win for our own Kate Cannon, who earned the 2025 Statewide Rookie Emergency Manager of the Year award. Selected from a competitive field of nominees, Kate was recognized for her outstanding work in planning, relationship-building, and community outreach. Behind the scenes, preparedness efforts are in full swing. The team continues advancing work on critical infrastructure, continuity of operations planning, and collaboration with the Clerk & Recorder's Office to support upcoming primary election preparedness. Meanwhile, progress continues on the Emergency Operations Center remodel, with audio-visual installation now underway — bringing us one step closer to a more modern, capable coordination space.
Crime Prevention, SRO & Detention
Community Resource Deputy Mark Bybee, School Resource Officers, and the Detention Facility — community engagement, school safety, and care of inmates in custody.
Crime prevention & education
Community Resource Deputy Mark Bybee addresses citizen concerns and shares vital information with the public through on-site visits, public presentations, tours, special events, Nextdoor.com notifications, and other opportunities. Highlights from the first quarter:
- Presented at 9 HOA/community meetings including six situational awareness, de-escalation techniques, and active shooter trainings.
- Attended 12 events including visiting a 20-year old terminally ill cancer patient who loved police, a girl’s birthday party whose family lost their home to a fire, a Safety in Faith event, and helped a high school senior with a mock crime scene for their senior project.
- Managed 66 citizen inquiries.
- Conducted two Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) security surveys.
School Resource Officers
During a career fair at Drake Middle School, Sergeants Smoker and Rhoads took time to play some basketball with students during lunch. School Resource Officers (SRO) are embedded within schools in Jefferson County for the duration of each school year to provide extra security, safety, resources, and guidance to students and staff. The numbers below reflect activities during the first quarter:
Detention Facility
The Detentions Division provides housing, security, and physical and mental health services for inmates, as well as programs to reduce recidivism and set individuals up for success upon release. The jail houses offenders awaiting court appearances, being transported to another detention facility, or sentenced to serve their time at the county jail. Q1 averages and totals: Average Males Housed — Jan 678 · Feb 676 · Mar 678 Average Females Housed — Jan 153 · Feb 148 · Mar 121 Transgender intakes — 5 · 4 · 0 (people who self-identify as other than their biological sex during intake) ADA-specific intakes — 13 · 24 · 18 Narcan incidents — 2 · 1 · 4 (inmates given Narcan; the medication has no negative side effects and does not cause further harm to someone with an unrelated medical emergency) Total Intake — 1,269 · 1,095 · 1,259 (Q1 total: 3,623) Total Released — 1,223 · 1,096 · 1,270
Criminal Investigations
The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) investigates all felony crimes and some select misdemeanor crimes. CID then presents these cases to the 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office for prosecution. The units within the division include Crime Scene, Victim Services, Property Crimes, Special Investigations, and Child Sex Offender Internet Investigations (CHEEZO). CID also works in conjunction with the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory (JCRCL), which is housed within JCSO headquarters.
Notable Cases
Two people found dead along roadside
JCSO deputies responded to a report of two people found deceased inside a vehicle along Highway 103 near mile marker 30, close to the Jefferson/Clear Creek County line. A passerby noticed a blue Toyota RAV4 had been parked there for at least two days and called 911 on March 31, after looking inside. The occupants were identified as 47-year-old Joshua Young and 45-year-old Corinne Wallen, both from Missouri. They appeared to have died from gunshot wounds to the head in a murder-suicide, and investigators found a gun inside the vehicle along with several notes written by the couple on the dashboard. Investigators determined there was no threat to the public, and Flock data showed the pair had been traveling across the country with no known ties to the area.
Motor vehicle theft ring busted
In January 2026, a prolific trespass crew targeted dozens of Jefferson County residents by stealing vehicles from parking garages at apartment complexes. Through coordination with the Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force and information shared among four agencies, investigators identified three suspects, recovered two stolen vehicles, and booked two suspects into jail. The fake towing company used in the scheme, Loko Automotive, was also shut down. With assistance from the JCSO Investigations Property Unit, multiple felony warrants were issued in several jurisdictions for the suspected ringleader, 30-year-old Jordan White.
Digital stalking
On March 20, 54-year-old Warren Austin was arrested on a warrant for stalking. Austin had placed a small tracking device on the vehicle of his former employee and another device on that employee's new boyfriend's vehicle. Austin eventually admitted to placing Cube brand tracking devices on the vehicles. JCSO investigators used a phone application and several pieces of hardware to "sniff" out the exact location of the trackers on the vehicle. JCSO investigators continued to explore this growing trend of digital trackers including creating specific hardware to pair with currently available software to locate these devices.
Victim Services Unit
The Victim Services Unit (VSU) provides respectful care to victims of crime and trauma. Specialized counselors and volunteer victim advocates respond to calls 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. In the first quarter, the VSU was assigned 656 cases and responded to 414 calls including: 163 in-person callouts; 251 immediate phone responses; 65 deaths (suicide and unattended deaths).
CID cases by precinct
Felony cases assigned to investigators in the JCSO Criminal Investigations Division in the first quarter, by crime type and JCSO patrol precinct. Property Crimes — North 47 · South 128 · Mountain 17 (Total 192) Major Crimes — N 47 · S 91 · M 36 (174) Financial Crimes — N 26 · S 74 · M 26 (126) Crimes Against Children — N 13 · S 90 · M 15 (118) Total Cases Assigned — North 133 · South 383 · Mountain 94 (Q1 total: 610)
Sex offender statistics
In the first quarter, the Records Unit maintained over 350 sex offender records and verified 110 addresses. Per HB 21-1064, juveniles meeting certain eligibility requirements are now automatically de-registered from the database.
Traffic Operations & Focus Crimes
The primary goal of the JCSO Traffic Unit is to reduce traffic accidents involving fatalities and injury. Each month, the Traffic Unit provides the Patrol Division with strategic deployment recommendations based on monthly crash analysis.
Traffic operations
In the first quarter, the Traffic Unit conducted a joint traffic enforcement operation with Colorado State Patrol on Hwy 285, a DUI enforcement for the St. Patrick's Day holiday weekend, and conducted an operation targeting red light violations. Additionally, they presented to the Youth Leadership Jeffco group and to a special needs group, visited a terminally ill citizen who wanted to be a deputy, and held the annual roadside memorial for fallen Sgt. Dave Baldwin, who had also been part of the Traffic Unit.
Speed mitigation grant
A federal speed mitigation grant allows for additional hours of enforcement along Hwy 93 and Hwy 285. First-quarter results: Time Dedicated (hours) — Jan 58.5 · Feb 65 · Mar 93 (Q1 total: 216.5 hours) Summonses — Jan 120 · Feb 132 · Mar 188 (Q1 total: 440)
DUI arrests
The JCSO receives federal grant funding for DUI enforcement to increase traffic safety. Efforts of regular patrol operations, along with specific DUI enforcement, resulted in 58 DUI arrests in the first quarter. Total DUI Arrests — Jan 18 · Feb 18 · Mar 22
Crash data
The top three common causal factors for fatal and injury crashes in the first quarter remain speed, inattentive driving, and DUI. Fatal — Jan 0 · Feb 1 · Mar 0 (Q1 total: 1) Injury — Jan 22 · Feb 30 · Mar 22 (Q1 total: 74) Property — Jan 126 · Feb 120 · Mar 124 (Q1 total: 370) Total — Jan 148 · Feb 151 · Mar 146 (Q1 total: 445)
Traffic summonses
Summonses include those issued by the Traffic Unit and Patrol for Model Traffic Code violations or state violations. 1Q 2025: 2,241 summonses 1Q 2026: 1,685 summonses (down 24.8% year over year)
Focus crimes
In Jefferson County, property crimes such as residential and commercial burglaries, motor vehicle trespasses, and motor vehicle theft are crimes we categorize as "focus crimes." Often, we find that the same person(s) commits more than one of these crimes, and when these crimes are studied, we learn patterns of behavior. The Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions research occurrences of focus crimes to determine if there are similarities that would indicate a spree or a crime series involving the same suspect or suspects. Studying these trends helps us better anticipate and prepare for responses with the intent to apprehend suspects who may be responsible for multiple offenses. Five-year first-quarter comparison (2022 → 2026): Burglary — 120 · 90 · 75 · 75 · 57 Theft from Motor Vehicle — 276 · 148 · 139 · 76 · 56 Motor Vehicle Theft — 161 · 134 · 102 · 63 · 43
Notable Law Enforcement Activity
Evergreen H.S. investigation complete
On February 4, JCSO announced it had concluded the investigation into the Evergreen High School shooting, including efforts to determine how the shooter obtained the Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver used in the attack. Investigators from JCSO, ATF, and the FBI traced the gun to its original purchaser in Florida in 1966, but the trail ended because that person was deceased. On January 23, the parents' attorney said the gun belonged to a maternal grandparent and was kept in a locked gun safe, with the shooter only present during brief times when his father opened it. Throughout the case, investigators kept the First Judicial District Attorney's Office informed as all possible charges involving the parents were reviewed, but ultimately found insufficient evidence to establish probable cause or meet the legal standard for charges. The case is now closed unless new evidence emerges. JCSO recognizes this was not the outcome many in the community hoped for, but remains committed to a thorough, impartial process guided by facts and law, while honoring the courage of Evergreen High School students and staff and the extraordinary response of front-range first responders.
Active shooter at Evergreen Primary Care facility
On February 12 at 4:23 p.m., deputies responded to reports of gunshots at the CommonSpirit Primary Care office at 32214 Ellingwood Trail in Evergreen. They arrived about five minutes later and found broken windows from gunfire. Deputies made entry into the health care building and located an adult male suspect inside, armed with a shotgun. Deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the gunman used the weapon to take his own life. The male was identified as 62-year-old Lance Black, a patient at that health care facility in the past. The building and surrounding shopping center were cleared, and no victims or additional threats were found. The suspect fired 19 rounds, damaging office equipment, doors, and walls. No one was injured, and investigators believe he acted alone with no ongoing threat to the public.
SVP community notification
On March 25, JCSO released a community notification required by Colorado law after Jerry Freyta, a registered sex offender classified as a sexually violent predator, moved into the area. Freyta was convicted in 1987 for sexual assault on a child and aggravated incest, and again in 2007 for attempted sexual assault on a child. Because he is considered at high risk to reoffend, JCSO shared this information on its website and social media channels to promote public safety and awareness.
JCSO warns parents about popular "Senior Assassin" game
Senior Assassin is a game in which high school seniors try to "eliminate" assigned targets with water guns or similar toy blasters, but from a distance these can look like real firearms and create serious safety concerns. In Jefferson County and across the country, the game has led to law enforcement calls and dangerous behavior, including trespassing, hiding outside businesses at night, carrying realistic toy guns on school grounds, and even shooting at moving vehicles. These situations can trigger lockdowns, large police responses, injuries, and possible criminal charges, which is why JCSO urges parents to talk with their kids about the risks.
Crime Statistics
Five-yearfirst-quarterNIBRScomparison.
First quarter crime statistics are reported in NIBRS, the National Incident Based Reporting System. This system is a more inclusive method for collecting and standardizing crime data from law enforcement agencies, and is used by most other agencies in Colorado. The data is accurate as of the release of this report; however, numbers are subject to change.
Five-Year NIBRS Trend
First-quarter total reports by NIBRS category, 2022–2026
Total first-quarter reports declined from 2,276 in 1Q '22 to 1,303 in 1Q '26 (-43%), driven primarily by a 58% drop in Crimes Against Property. Person, Society, and Group B categories remained relatively stable.
Chart description (accessibility)
Total first-quarter reports declined from 2,276 in 1Q '22 to 1,303 in 1Q '26 (-43%), driven primarily by a 58% drop in Crimes Against Property. Person, Society, and Group B categories remained relatively stable.
Focus Crimes — 5-Year Trend
First-quarter property crimes most studied for spree and series patterns
Burglary fell 52% (120 to 57), Theft from Motor Vehicle fell 80% (276 to 56), and Motor Vehicle Theft fell 73% (161 to 43) between 1Q '22 and 1Q '26.
Chart description (accessibility)
Burglary fell 52% (120 to 57), Theft from Motor Vehicle fell 80% (276 to 56), and Motor Vehicle Theft fell 73% (161 to 43) between 1Q '22 and 1Q '26.
View full NIBRS table — 43 rows across all crime types
| Crime Type | Breakout | 1Q 2022 | 1Q 2023 | 1Q 2024 | 1Q 2025 | 1Q 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes Against Person | ||||||
| Murder | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kidnapping | 7 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 11 | |
| Sex Offenses | 26 | 44 | 41 | 33 | 19 | |
| Assault | Aggravated | 73 | 67 | 95 | 69 | 51 |
| Assault | Simple | 219 | 220 | 230 | 223 | 231 |
| Assault | Intimidation | 36 | 9 | 22 | 24 | 13 |
| Human Trafficking | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 364 | 350 | 403 | 363 | 326 | |
| Crimes Against Property | ||||||
| Arson | 7 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | |
| Extortion | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 11 | |
| Burglary | 120 | 90 | 75 | 75 | 57 | |
| Robbery | 10 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 5 | |
| Theft | Coin-Operated Machine | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Theft | From Motor Vehicle | 276 | 148 | 139 | 76 | 56 |
| Theft | Vehicle Parts | 123 | 79 | 38 | 40 | 25 |
| Theft | Other Larceny | 163 | 196 | 200 | 165 | 81 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 161 | 134 | 102 | 63 | 43 | |
| Counterfeiting | 19 | 29 | 20 | 29 | 25 | |
| Fraud | False Pretenses | 44 | 44 | 32 | 63 | 48 |
| Fraud | ATM | 61 | 22 | 43 | 11 | 23 |
| Fraud | Impersonation | 12 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 15 |
| Fraud | Wire Fraud | 38 | 14 | 20 | 17 | 33 |
| Bribery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Identity Theft | 125 | 63 | 81 | 91 | 56 | |
| Vandalism | 392 | 304 | 283 | 168 | 178 | |
| TOTAL | 1,576 | 1,160 | 1,080 | 835 | 666 | |
| Crimes Against Society | ||||||
| Drugs | 123 | 142 | 107 | 106 | 120 | |
| Pornography | 16 | 29 | 13 | 23 | 12 | |
| Prostitution | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Animal Cruelty | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |
| Weapons Violations | 9 | 16 | 9 | 20 | 10 | |
| TOTAL | 150 | 192 | 133 | 154 | 147 | |
| Group A | ||||||
| GROUP A TOTAL | 2,090 | 1,702 | 1,616 | 1,352 | 1,139 | |
| Group B Offenses | ||||||
| Bad Checks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Disorderly Conduct | 9 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 7 | |
| DUI | 48 | 30 | 38 | 51 | 46 | |
| Family Offenses (Non-Violent) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| Liquor Law Violation | 19 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 8 | |
| Trespass — Real Property | 10 | 14 | 13 | 32 | 30 | |
| All Other Offenses | 97 | 54 | 60 | 78 | 72 | |
| GROUP B TOTAL | 186 | 119 | 131 | 167 | 164 | |
| Overall | ||||||
| OVERALL TOTAL | 2,276 | 1,821 | 1,747 | 1,519 | 1,303 | |
- · Vehicle Parts includes catalytic converters, license plates, etc.
- · Group B — All Other Offenses includes things like harassment, failure to register, contempt of court, indecent exposure, etc.
Protect. Serve. Enforce.