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Pitkin County considers seasonal backcountry response officers to backfill Forest Service cuts
Summary
County commissioners discussed adding two seasonal, term-limited backcountry community response officers to help with public safety, early wildfire detection and resource protection where U.S. Forest Service staffing has declined.
Pitkin County commissioners on June 10 reviewed a supplemental budget request to hire two seasonal, term-limited backcountry community response officers through the sheriff’s office.
The county manager and sheriff’s office described the positions as a modest, targeted effort to partly backfill field tasks the U.S. Forest Service has cut, including foot and vehicle patrol, early wildfire detection, enforcement of vehicle rules, and remote medical and accident response where cell service is unavailable. County staff said the county previously ran a one-person backcountry officer program and modeled the supplemental on that experience.
County Manager John Peacock and Sheriff Michael (last name not specified in transcript) told commissioners the officers would perform regular foot patrols and vehicle checks in remote areas, help locate injured visitors, spot unattended or smoldering campfires, and support enforcement and resource-protection needs. Staff framed the request as focused on public safety and natural-resource protection rather than replacing the Forest Service in full.
Commissioners expressed support but several said two officers would be insufficient to cover the county’s largely federal land base. Commissioner Francie (last name not specified) noted the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District staffing had fallen from roughly 28 to about 17 in recent years, and several commissioners urged the county to keep the positions under review and return with an update on effectiveness and possible expansion.
County staff said they had interviewed candidates and extended conditional offers pending board approval of the budget supplemental; recruiting another cohort quickly would be difficult if the board requested more hires immediately. Staff also said some short-term coverage could be achieved with overtime paid to deputies if the board chose that approach.
Commissioners asked about coordination with volunteer groups. County staff and the sheriff’s office said volunteers are a significant asset but have management and safety limits; staff discussed working to ensure volunteers have radios and dispatch access. Commissioners asked staff to monitor coordination and return with information about volunteer training and communications capacity.
The commissioners directed staff to move the budget supplemental forward for formal reading in the county’s regular session the next day. Staff emphasized the positions are seasonal and intended as a partial, immediate response to federal staffing reductions rather than a permanent transfer of federal responsibilities to the county.
