LA PLATA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
GENERAL INFORMATION

The La Plata County Sheriff's Office is the front line provider of emergency peacekeeping and criminal investigation services for over 45,000 citizens of La Plata County. We are also the largest law enforcement agency in Southwestern Colorado. Sheriff Duke Schirard assumed the duties of Sheriff on January 10, 1995. Prior to that, Sheriff Schirard was acting Sheriff of La Plata County from 1977 to 1978, being appointed to that position by the Board of County Commissioners after working as a Patrol Deputy, Jail Deputy and finally as Undersheriff. Sheriff Schirard served the Bayfield community as Marshal from 1986 until December 1994. The La Plata County Sheriff's Office is a medium-sized agency of one hundred and five (105) employees. There are six (6) Divisions: Detentions, Public Safety, Special Services, Alternatives to Incarceration, Investigations and the Special Investigations Unit.