Routt County Sheriff's Office

06/09/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨
The Routt County Sheriff’s Office has been notified that scammers are contacting residents while posing as Sheriff’s Office deputies.
These callers may claim there is an emergency and instruct you to contact “Sheriff’s Office personnel,” sometimes providing this callback number: 970-888-8792.
🔴 This is a scam.
Please remember:

Do not provide personal or identifying information over the phone to unsolicited callers
Never share bank account or financial information over the phone
Law enforcement will not request sensitive information in this manner

If you have received one of these calls or shared any information, please contact the Routt County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 970-870-5503.

06/09/2026

Join us in recognizing our local heroes.

The Routt County Sheriff's Office invites community members to attend a public award ceremony on Wednesday, June 10 at 3 PM at the Combined Law Enforcement Facility (CLEF) Community Room.

During the ceremony, several citizens will be presented with Citizen Life Saver Awards in recognition of their courageous and life-saving actions during a structure fire last year. Their quick thinking, selfless service, and commitment to helping others exemplify the very best of our community.

We hope you'll join as we honor these individuals and express our gratitude for their extraordinary efforts.

Watch Online: https://bit.ly/4v8Pyc2

05/18/2026

05/18/2026

✨COMPETITOR SPOTLIGHT

TRAVIS BEDELL & K9 CLEO

Cleo is a five year old Belgian Malinois that was raised from a pup. She is narcotic detection and tracking certified. She has been working for the Routt County Sheriff's Office for the last two years. She became a mom last November, and her daughter Kate is following along in her mother's footsteps.

Cleo spends her off duty hours fetching and guarding the house. Please ask her human (Travis) to demonstrate the extent of her abilities. She trains her family to perform tricks as well.

04/24/2026

🏀 COMMUNITY BASKETBALL GAME – SOROCO vs RAMS! 🏀

Join us for a fun, high-energy night as our community comes together for a special Basketball Community Game!

📅 Tuesday, May 5
⏰ Tip-off: 7:30 PM
📍 SOROCO High School – Old Gym

This will run just like a real game, featuring some of SOROCO’s best game-day staff serving as:
• Coaches
• Officials
• Clock/Scorekeeper
• Announcer

💛 Support Your Community
LiftUp will be onsite collecting donations to directly support South Routt. If you’re able, please bring:
• Frozen meats
• Personal hygiene items (deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
• Laundry & cleaning supplies
• Canned goods (no dents or missing labels)

Let’s pack the gym, show our SOROCO Pride, and support a great cause!

🙌 Special Guests | Community Support | Growth for All

📩 Questions? Contact Hannah at [email protected] or 970-291-4409

GO SOROCO! GO RAMS!

04/10/2026

🎨🗳️ Routt County “I Voted” Sticker Contest is LIVE! 🗳️🎨

Hey Routt County! We’re calling on our middle & high school creatives (grades 6-12) to help design something EVERY voter will see in the 2026 General Election 👀

That’s right… your artwork could become the official “I Voted” sticker sent out with ballots across the county!

💥 What’s in it for you?
🏆 Your design featured county-wide
📰 Recognition in a County press release (and maybe media!)
💵 $100 cash prize

🗳️ How it works:
The winning design will be chosen through a mix of community voting + Clerk & Recorder’s Office selection- so yes, your friends, family, and neighbors can help vote too!
✏️ Contest Basics:

✔️ Must be a Routt County student (grades 6–12)
✔️ Original artwork ONLY (no stock images)
✔️ Must include the words “I Voted”
✔️ Keep it nonpartisan
✔️ Hand-drawn OR digital designs welcome
✔️ Bonus points for local Routt County flair (but keep it clean & simple!)

📅 Deadline: Friday, May 1

📬 Submit your design + find details here: [https://www.co.routt.co.us/991/Contest]
📧 Questions? [email protected]

04/09/2026

🔎 Do You Recognize This Person?

The individual shown in these videos was trespassing on a private driveway at approximately 4:00 AM on Monday morning (04/06/2026). While the subject is wearing a mask and their face is not visible, there may be other identifying characteristics- such as clothing, build, mannerisms, or movement- that could help identify them.

If you recognize this person or have any information that may assist in this case, please contact our office at 970-879-1090 or stop by the records window during normal business hours. Even small details can be helpful.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe.

04/05/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT - FRAUDULENT CALLS REPORTED 🚨

The Routt County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports of scam phone calls from an individual falsely claiming to be Lt. David Russo with our office.

The caller is telling victims they have “illegal documents” or legal issues tied to U.S. District Court and is instructing them to come to a police station (including Hayden PD or RCSO) for “signature verification.” In some cases, they are even providing fake document numbers and claiming they are working overtime in the office.

📞 What you need to know:

This is NOT a legitimate call from law enforcement
The Routt County Sheriff’s Office will never call you demanding immediate action or requesting personal/legal verification over the phone
These calls may appear convincing and may even spoof local phone numbers

⚠️ What to do:

Do NOT provide any personal or financial information
Do NOT go to any location based on these instructions
Hang up immediately
Report the call to Routt County Communications or your local law enforcement agency

We have reason to believe these calls may be originating from outside our area.

Please share this information with friends and family- especially those who may be more vulnerable to scams.

Stay alert, Routt County.

03/30/2026

🚨 RED FLAG WARNING - TODAY (12:00 PM – 8:00 PM) 🚨

Routt County is under a Red Flag Warning from 1200-2000 hours (12 PM - 8 PM) today due to a combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures. These conditions create critical fire danger, meaning any fire that starts can spread rapidly and become difficult to control.

🔥 What this means:

Fires can ignite easily and grow quickly
Even small sparks (from equipment, vehicles, or campfires) can start a wildfire

🚫 Restrictions during this time:

No open burning or campfires (outside of approved areas, if allowed)
Avoid activities that create sparks (welding, grinding, etc.)
Be cautious with trailers/chains that could drag and spark
Properly dispose of ci******es - never toss them out the window

⚠️ Please do your part to prevent wildfires. Conditions like these can turn a small mistake into a major incident very quickly.

If you see smoke or fire, report it immediately.

Stay safe, Routt County.

03/27/2026

A Letter from the local Fire Chiefs

Dear Residents of Routt County,

We are writing to you today as partners in your safety. While we all cherish the mountain lifestyle that drew us to the Yampa Valley, this winter has presented us with a stark reality: our snowpack is currently at approximately 63% of its historical median. With spring upon us and our landscape significantly drier than normal, the opportunity to prepare your property for the 2026 wildfire season is presenting itself earlier than usual.

The investment you have made in your home is substantial. The historically low snowpack means that the fine fuels across the landscape and surrounding your home - the grasses, brush and leaf litter - will dry out weeks ahead of schedule, increasing the potential for an early and intense fire season and putting your investment at elevated risk.

Wildfire mitigation is not about preventing a forest fire; it is about "hardening" your home so it can survive an ember shower or a passing ground fire without professional intervention. In the event of a major incident, our resources will be stretched thin and focused on saving lives, first and foremost.

Here are a few ways you can start to prepare today:

1. Register for Routt County Alerts
2. Create a comprehensive household evacuation plan
3. Ensure your address sign is visible from the road, noncombustible and reflective
4. Request a Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Evaluation, or self-evaluate
5. Reduce fuels on your property in alignment with HIZ principles
6. Consider structure hardening projects (screen vents, replace combustible attachments, etc.)

The Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council has programming and resources that can help. Visit http://www.routtwildfire.org for more information.

This year, the stakes are higher than ever. We ask you to lead by example and share these concerns with your neighbors. By taking a proactive approach on your property and in your community today, you are not just protecting your own home… you are protecting your neighbors, your water supply and the first responders who serve this valley.

Gratefully,

Kenyon Shephard, Interim Chief, Oak Creek Fire Rescue

Chuck Cerasoli, Fire Chief, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue

Ky Cox, Fire Chief, Yampa Fire Protection District

Matt Mathisen, Fire Chief, North Routt Fire Protection District

Trevor Guire, Fire Chief, West Routt Fire Rescue

Josh Hankes, Executive Director, Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council