By Alex Bakken
Carbon County Sheriff
People often ask, “What exactly does a Sheriff’s Office do?” which is a great question, especially here in rural Wyoming. It’s important to know that the statutory duties of a Sheriff’s Office vary from state to state. For example, in Colorado, the Sheriff is also required to act as the Fire Warden. Wyoming Sheriff’s Office duties are determined by Wyoming state law and may encompass more than you think! First and foremost, the Sheriff’s Office is required to keep and maintain a jail. While undoubtedly one of the least-fun components of a Sheriff’s Office, it is nonetheless a necessity dictated by state statute.
Secondly, a County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for “keeping the peace.” This usually consists of maintaining a Patrol Division, which is dispersed throughout the county. This is a unique challenge for a county such as ours, which covers almost 8,000 square miles or an area roughly the size of New Jersey.
A County Sheriff is also responsible for providing security for the courts (both District and Circuit) as well as serving papers (think subpoenas, witness summons, civil service, etc.)
Last but certainly not least, the County Sheriff is responsible for coordinating all Search and Rescue Missions within their jurisdiction. We are extremely fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteer Search and Rescue personnel county-wide who are kept busy year-round.
Our Carbon County Sheriff’s Office consists of four divisions: Patrol, Detention, Dispatch, and Administrative. Each division has specific tasks and duties, and all divisions work together daily.
Executing the statutory requirements of a Sheriff in a county as vast and geographically diverse as Carbon can certainly be challenging, but it is also immensely rewarding. Carbon County has a population of roughly 15,000 citizens spread out over an area of approximately 7,964 square miles, making us the third largest county in Wyoming by area. We love the rural nature of our county and the opportunities it provides us, both as private citizens and law enforcement officers.
I hope you found this article enlightening, and if you have any questions, please let us know! You can follow us on Facebook at @Alex Bakken-Carbon County Sheriff or https://www.facebook.com/bakkenforsheriff/. You can also email us at ccsheriff@carbonwy.com.
