Hayden, Colorado Police Department

06/01/2026

UPDATE: OWNER HAS BEEN FOUND
Black German Shepherd has been found in front of the trailer park within the construction zone on the West side of Hayden today 6/1/26. He/she is currently being held at the Hayden Police Department until 3 pm. If you are the owner of this dog, please contact 970-276-2535 or come to the office located at 249 Hawthorne Street before 3 pm. After 3pm he/she will be transported to Routt County Humane Society.

05/04/2026

Lateral Police Officer — $86,300 – $116,770 annually
48/96 schedule. Approximately 243 days off per year.

Hayden PD is still hiring a lateral police officer.

And yes, we said still.

To be clear, we are not just looking for someone with a pulse, a badge, and a dream of living in Colorado.

We are not trying to fill a uniform. We are looking for the right person.

Someone with good judgment.

Someone who knows how to talk to people.

Someone who can work independently without turning every call into a federal incident.

Someone who understands that small-town policing means your reputation gets to the call before you do.

Hayden is a small but growing community in Northwest Colorado, about 25 minutes from Steamboat Springs. We offer competitive lateral pay, modern equipment, on-duty workout time, supportive leadership, and a schedule that gives you actual time to enjoy where you live.

Our patrol schedule is currently built around a 48/96 rotation, meaning officers work two days on, followed by four days off. That comes out to approximately 243 days off per year.

Yes, really.

Apparently, the second responders have been onto something with this schedule for years, so we finally decided to steal one of their better ideas. Mostly because they seemed well-rested and suspiciously happy.

That means time for family, hunting, fishing, skiing, camping, hiking, sleeping, or simply staring into the mountains, wondering why you spent so many years being ordered to work on your days off.

We're looking for an experienced officer who wants to do meaningful police work, be part of a professional department, and serve a community where officers are expected to be approachable, capable, and accountable.

If you’re checked out, cutting corners, or looking for somewhere to hide, this probably is not your place.

But if you’re a solid lateral officer looking for a better fit, a better schedule, and a better quality of life, we should talk.

No sales pitch.

No recruiter blowing up your cell phone.

Just a real conversation about whether Hayden PD is the right fit.

Apply or express interest here:
https://www.haydencolorado.com/271/Town-of-Hayden-Employment

Hayden Police Department

Same profession. Better scenery. Fewer excuses.

04/17/2026

Great training, wonderful partnership.

NW Colorado SWAT Training - April 15, 2026

04/16/2026

We love our new roommates!

By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News/Birchwood Communications LLC.   Two new Routt County backup dispatch stations have been set up in the Hayden Police Station. Routt County Communications Director Jim Cullen said the project really got

04/05/2026

Good news: per Hayden Town Council direction, we are suspending enforcement of the winter parking ordinance through the end of April 2026.

That means vehicles may park on town streets overnight unless the National Weather Service is forecasting 2 inches or more of snow overnight. If 2 inches or more is in the forecast, please move your vehicle so the plows can do their job without turning it into an obstacle course.

We appreciate the Town Council for working with residents and applying some common sense during a winter that has been surprisingly uncommitted to being winter.

So yes, the rule now is basically: no real snow, no real problem.

04/01/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In response to ongoing traffic safety concerns, the Hayden Police Department has acquired a retired M113 armored personnel carrier through the military surplus program.

Although the vehicle is not technically classified as a tank, the Department believes that distinction is unlikely to matter to most motorists, which is part of what makes it such a promising traffic-calming tool.

The M113 weighs approximately 27,000 pounds, is powered by a 275-horsepower diesel engine, seats two crew members and up to 11 passengers, and can reach approximately 40 miles per hour. With a fuel capacity of roughly 95 gallons and an operational range of about 300 miles, it is well-suited for short deployments, public visibility, and sending a subtle message about compliance with posted speed limits. For those asking, the main gun is a .50 caliber machine gun, which is significantly more cost-effective than a tank round and considerably easier to justify in the budget. We plan to increase our speeding fines by 300% to offset the cost of ammunition.

While the Department acknowledges that some may consider this a robust response to routine speeding complaints, we would respectfully note that some driving habits in town have also been robust.

At this time, the vehicle is expected to support traffic enforcement, winter operations, and community engagement efforts. Use for coffee retrieval, curbside parking enforcement, and ceremonial intimidation has not yet been approved.

Hayden Police Department appreciates the community’s continued support as we work to identify innovative solutions to local concerns.

03/27/2026

No students, no downtime. Over spring break, your Hayden officers trained inside the Hayden School District schools to sharpen our response to an active threat. We hope these skills are never needed, but protecting our schools means preparing for the moments that matter most.

03/24/2026

Small-town policing means sometimes you check how fast a kid can run.

03/20/2026

Staying sharp on our skills so we can

03/10/2026

Information sharing and technology are vital in today's law enforcement.

Real-world investigations often cross city and state lines — and sharing information quickly matters.

In this week’s investigation into a triple homicide in Utah, law enforcement agencies used license plate reader alerts to help locate a stolen vehicle and coordinate across jurisdictions, leading to a suspect’s arrest in Pagosa Springs.

“This case shows how important it is for agencies to be able to share information quickly when violent crimes occur,” said Durango Police Chief and CACP board member Brice Current. “Technology like license plate readers gives investigators critical leads that can help locate dangerous suspects and protect communities.”

Read more about the investigation and how license plate reader technology helped: Link in the comments.