Board approves $8,300 cooperative law enforcement agreement with U.S. Forest Service

Routt County commissioners approved the county’s annual cooperative law enforcement agreement with the U.S. Forest Service for $8,300, which reimburses county overtime for extra patrols on Forest Service lands.

Sheriff’s Office staff said the agreement typically funds extra shifts — for holidays, hunting season, or identified events such as unpermitted ATV rallies — and that the Forest Service recently allowed unused funds to be used to purchase equipment such as wildland fire shelters. Staff said they have historically spent most of the reimbursed funds and that the agreement helps demonstrate federal presence in forest lands and provide support to campground hosts and visitor safety.

County staff described how the county coordinates with the Forest Service’s federal law enforcement officer assigned to the region and noted the county does not enforce federal statutes but supports presence, identification of violations and referral to federal authorities. The board approved the cooperative law enforcement agreement unanimously.