Gilpin County renews law-enforcement recruit training agreement and academy repayment policy

The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 11 approved a five-year law-enforcement recruit training agreement with the Combined Regional Police Academy (City of Lakewood/Jefferson County) and adopted updated academy repayment agreements for current cadets.

Sheriff's Office staff presented the agreement and described program results since 2020: 11 recruits have attended the academy under the county'funded program; nine remain employed by the county, five serve in patrol and four in the jail; one recent detention-to-patrol transfer was described as occurring after the academy. Staff said the program has supported staffing and promotional opportunities, including one graduate promoted to sergeant.

The contract covers post-certification training and enrollment at the academy; staff noted the academy cost in the paperwork as $8,500 per cadet. The county also moved to adopt repayment agreements for two deputies currently attending the academy; the repayment agreement is structured as a two-year prorated obligation should a deputy leave within that time frame. County staff described prior legal and administrative difficulties in recouping training costs when deputies left during the repayment period and said recent adjustments were intended to align the agreements with current state statute and legal guidance.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the recruit training resolution and subsequently to approve the academy repayment agreements (both resolutions passed unanimously). Staff said the repayment agreement is now recoupable as of the date of approval and that any recovery efforts would follow standard legal processes if voluntary repayment fails.