Gilpin County adopts resolutions on disposition of abandoned firearms, VOCA grant, mission, and employee handbook

The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners voted 3–0 on March 11 to approve a package of resolutions authorizing the disposition of abandoned personal property, the submission of a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant application, adoption of updated mission and strategic priorities, and revisions to the county employee handbook.

Susie Allen, property and evidence manager for the sheriff’s office, asked the board to approve Resolution 25-028 authorizing disposition of abandoned items on a multi-year evidence list, including firearms recovered or unclaimed in cases dated from February 2010 through February 2024. Allen said certified letters to owners produced no responses and that the sheriff’s office’s typical process is to trade qualifying firearms to a licensed dealer; proceeds historically have taken the form of trade credit. Allen said previous trade-ins produced about $1,500–$2,000 in similar batches, but she had not yet received bids for the current list.

County Attorney Todd Messenger advised that proceeds from any sale or trade-in typically go to the general fund and would be subject to the county’s normal budget process, unless the board specifically…