The town of Morrison, located in the western part of the Denver metro area, has made the decision to end its police force and transition to full-time patrols by Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies.
This change, which takes effect in January, comes as part of a financial restructuring aimed at addressing budgetary concerns.
Financial Decision Behind Police Force Closure
The decision to shut down Morrison’s police force was primarily a financial one.
With a small town budget that couldn’t sustain the current police force, the town board opted to end the local law enforcement and rely on Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies instead.
Nine officers will lose their jobs starting in January, as they were informed earlier this month.
The town will now be patrolled full-time by the sheriff’s office, which has been handling overnight shifts in Morrison for some time.
To cushion the blow, the laid-off officers will receive severance packages and be asked to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Shift to County Law Enforcement
Starting January 1, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies will take over full-time patrol duties in Morrison.
This shift means that instead of relying on local police, the town will be covered by county law enforcement around the clock.
While the town has had occasional patrols during the overnight hours by deputies, this change will provide more consistent coverage.
The sheriff’s office believes that this move won’t stretch its resources too thin, as there are nearby substations to quickly respond to any incidents when deputies aren’t actively patrolling.
Morrison police officers who are losing their jobs are encouraged to apply for positions with the sheriff’s office, as they already have a good understanding of the area.
