Colorado Rangers

Colorado's concept of sharing a statewide police reserve is the first ever implemented in the United States. The agency was created pursuant the recommendations of a Task Force[5] enacted in 2016 by the Colorado Legislature that was delegated to study the Peace Officer Certification and Authority of the Colorado Mounted Rangers.  The task force was mandated by state statute to include the Colorado Attorney General, a county sheriff, the Chief of the Colorado State Patrol, the Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Director of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the Colonel of the Colorado Mounted Rangers.

This Task Force studied the functionality of the Colorado Mounted Rangers while assessing the needs of law enforcement throughout the state. Members of the task force saw a need for creating a governmental structure that could support a viable law enforcement reserve agency. The agency needed to be prepared to serve as a supplement to any size police agency, be widely available throughout the state, and available on a 24/7 basis. The idea of sharing a reserve police force would create predictability and allow for useful planning and budgeting by partner agencies. Partner agencies would each pay budgeted amounts annually into the new agency that would fund proper training and management of the Colorado Rangers. The concept was a winning formula for agencies which allowed them to retire less functional police and sheriff reserve programs and created access to uniformly trained police officers on an as needed basis. The idea of sharing resources beyond local jurisdiction limits reduced duplicative administrative costs and potential liabilities that exist with locally managed reserve programs.

In 2017, several municipalities worked together to create an intergovernmental agreement[6] that established an independent local government named the Colorado Rangers Law Enforcement Shared Reserve (CLER) that would assume the public title of Colorado Rangers. The governmental entity was designed specifically to provide Colorado P.O.S.T. certified reserve police officers to agencies throughout the state, which significantly expanded the supportive law enforcement role of the Colorado Mounted Rangers and transformed it back into a fully authorized police agency that is capable of being seamlessly integrated with police agencies that have temporary personnel needs.[7]

As part of the reorganization, the Colorado Mounted Rangers would retire its statutory law enforcement auxiliary and transition their officers into the Colorado Rangers Law Enforcement Shared Reserve. Rangers who were serving at the time were invited to complete Colorado P.O.S.T. approved police reserve academies tuition-free, funded by an initial $800,000 grant[8] from the state of Colorado.[9] Those officers that passed the stringent training requirements were allowed to join the new Colorado Rangers entity as certified peace officers. The Colorado Mounted Rangers officially ceased its operational law enforcement auxiliary function on July 15, 2018, the organization continues to exist as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides foundational fundraising support for the Colorado Rangers.[10]

The statewide shared reserve would be overseen by an appointed Board of Governors[11] whose members are appropriate and qualified for law enforcement oversight and administration guidance. A police command structure would be established for agency administration, all sworn personnel would be required to obtain P.O.S.T certification, and officers would be granted peace officer[12] status and authority while on duty.

The Colorado Rangers Law Enforcement Shared Reserve functions with other law enforcement and governmental entities through formal mutual aid agreements and have services available directly to agencies throughout the state.[15] This functionality drastically reduces the cost for maintaining separate local reserve programs for each agency.[16] Sharing this resource affords a higher level of training for each officer, and provides access to more experienced officers and specialties that wouldn't be possible to maintain for each individual agency.

Many smaller communities rely on policing manpower and expertise the Rangers provide for events that would overwhelm the budget and personnel capacity of local police and sheriff departments. The Rangers allow smaller communities to have large events that bring an influx of people into their communities. Rangers are often seen at fairs, festivals, concerts, parades, and events and the officers have developed a unique expertise in managing large event traffic and crowds. Rangers are considered experts by smaller agencies who don't routinely handle events with large crowds. The agency also provides police officers for special operations,[17] searches, patrol work, courtroom security, emergency events,[18] and other personnel needs that are requested by partner agencies.

The impact of the Rangers touches agencies of all sizes: a small town police department may need patrol officers for gaps in coverage, and large agencies such as Denver Police Department who rely upon the Colorado Rangers for a wide variety of policing functions.

The Colorado Rangers incorporate community policing practices that are friendly and visible, often seen sharing laughs with families and stickers for children. Rangers utilize a balanced approach with noted emphasis and training designed to protect the rights of the people they serve. They are also equipped, capable, and ready to involve themselves in more serious events such as riots, events of nature, or other emergency police needs. All officers are required to document each contact with citizens and record their interactions with Body Worn Cameras.

Colorado Rangers respond to a riot.

Colorado Ranger helping a disaster victim in a shelter.

Natural disasters rarely impact a single jurisdiction and often overwhelm local authorities. The statewide shared reserve system created in the state of Colorado has been a proven success for large scale emergency events.[19]

The Colorado Rangers have a unique ability to appropriate a large number of personnel in a way that few agencies can functionally manage. All Colorado Rangers receive training from FEMA as well as training with other local, state, and federal agencies to remain prepared at all times to support with expanding events. Rapid mobilization allows for local Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police flexibility to manage surprising and unpredictable events.

The agency has saved agencies in Colorado millions of dollars in personnel costs due to the Rangers ability to integrate into existing operations with ease.[20] The agency becomes invaluable during these times of need and reduces the impact on the full-time police officers and deputies serving in an impacted area.