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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

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  • Colorado Legislature approves five members to Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee

    Colorado Legislature approves five members to Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee

    Back, left to right: David Warsh, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Northwest Regional Manager Travis Black, Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs
    Front, left to right: Erica Elvove, David Gottenborg, Lauren McCain

    DENVER – Five people appointed by Gov. Jared Polis to the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee were confirmed in the Colorado Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 15. 

    New members Lauren McCain, Erica Elvove, David Warsh, David Gottenborg, along with Travis Black, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Northwest Region manager, will begin their terms on the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee.

    The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee identifies priority projects and makes recommendations to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Director and the CPW Commission to leverage approximately $9 million in funds generated through the program annually. 

    What is the Wildlife Habitat Stamp?
    The Wildlife Habitat Stamp initiative requires hunters and anglers purchasing an annual license to contribute $10.59 toward the state’s Habitat Protection Program.

    “These funds provide CPW with valuable resources needed to secure important habitat as well as public access to wildlife recreation,” said Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee Chair Dan Gates. 

    Purchases of the Wildlife Habitat Stamp provide the core funds for the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program (CWHP). The program provides a means for CPW to work with private landowners, local governments, and conservation organizations to protect important fish and wildlife habitat and provide places for people to enjoy our wildlife heritage. The agency has leveraged a variety of other funds around this core – including Great Outdoors Colorado and federal State Wildlife Grants – to extend the program’s reach. These combined funds protect fish and wildlife habitat and opportunities for hunting and fishing. 

    Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program
    The CWHP is a statewide program that supports CPW’s mission by offering funding opportunities for private landowners who wish to voluntarily protect important wildlife habitat, and/or, provide sustainable wildlife-related recreational access to the public.

    The CWHP is an incentive-based, voluntary program that utilizes conservation easements, access easements, and in some circumstances, fee title purchases to accomplish strategic wildlife conservation goals and/or public access goals.

    More information about the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp is available on CPW’s website.
     
    About the appointed members

    Brett Ackerman, Colorado Springs
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife representative

    Timothy Brass, Longmont
    Public-at-large representative

    Thomas Brossia, Durango
    Sportsperson representative

    Daniel Gates, Cañon City
    Sportsperson representative

    Jennifer Gluck, LaSalle
    Sportsperson representative

    Erica Elvove, Englewood
    Representative of national or regionally recognized conservation organization whose mission is focused on nongame wildlife and whose membership is composed primarily of nongame wildlife users

    Jon Nestor, Rifle
    Sportsperson representative

    Travis Black, Grand Junction
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife representative

    Lauren McCain, Denver
    Representative for national or regionally recognized conservation organization whose mission is focused on nongame wildlife and whose membership is composed primarily of nongame wildlife users

    David Warsh, Center
    Landowner actively engaged in agriculture

    David Gottenborg, Jefferson 
    Landowner actively engaged in agriculture

  • State Trooper Narrowly Misses Being Hit on Traffic Stop

    State Trooper Narrowly Misses Being Hit on Traffic Stop

    Two Vehicles Totaled but Only Minor Injuries Emphasize Move Over Law

    DAMS COUNTY – A Colorado State Patrol Trooper narrowly missed being critically injured or killed on a traffic stop after a second vehicle crashed into the car he had stopped. On February 15, 2022, at approximately 11:34 AM, CSP Master Trooper Travis Hood stopped a 2010 Kia sedan on northbound Interstate 25 near 58th Ave. for a speeding violation. The vehicle pulled over onto the large shoulder to the left of the HOV lane. Master Trooper Hood made contact and returned to his motorcycle to write a citation. Moments later a 2008 Dodge minivan struck the rear of the Kia, pushing it forward and causing a closure of the left lane. Master Trooper Hood immediately called for assistance and ran to the vehicles to check injuries and render aid as needed. 

    “Every day law enforcement officers and other roadway workers put themselves at risk in an effort to improve safety on our roadways,” says Colonel Matthew Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.  “Sadly incidents like these happen with incredible frequency and we are fortunate that a bigger tragedy didn’t play out yesterday on I-25. We are sharing this footage because it underscores the responsibility of drivers to move over and pay attention behind the wheel. There is no excuse for driving past any stopped vehicle at this rate of speed.”

    The driver of the Kia, a 34-year-old male from Denver, sustained moderate injuries and was transported from the scene.  The Dodge driver, a 20-year-old female from Avondale, sustained minor injuries and was medically checked at the scene; there were two additional passengers in the Dodge, one of whom sustained moderate injuries.  The Dodge driver was issued a citation for careless driving causing injury.

    The Colorado “Move Over” law states that any driver approaching a stationary emergency, tow, or maintenance vehicle that has their lights flashing/illuminated MUST move over at least one lane away, or if unable to safely move over, reduce their speed by at least 20 MPH under the speed limit. 

    See link to Dash Cam Video of Crash here. 

  • CPW’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Program awards $24,000 to seven wildlife rehabilitation centers in Colorado

    CPW’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Program awards $24,000 to seven wildlife rehabilitation centers in Colorado

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has awarded $24,000 in funding to seven wildlife rehabilitation centers across Colorado. The awards are provided through the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Program, using a portion of funds raised through the non-game check-off option on Colorado state tax returns.

    Funding will support veterinary testing, construction of new and upgraded wildlife recovery enclosures, specialized food, and medical supplies. This is the fourth year of the program, which has now provided 33 grants totaling more than $76,000 in funding to facilities across the state in support of a variety of wildlife rehabilitation efforts.

    “These seven grants reach across the state,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “They include investments to expand rehabilitation facilities for the long-term and funding to help keep existing facilities open to meet public demand.”  

    “Colorado’s diversity of wildlife species helps make our state a special place to live,” said John Gale, Chair of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Board. “The continued success of this program helps meet a critical rehabilitation need for non-game species that other wildlife funding programs don’t support. By relying on voluntary contributions made by individual taxpayers, this unique program ensures that dedicated funding for non-game species can be efficiently invested where it’s needed most on an annual basis.”

    “These grants provide much-needed funding to wildlife rehabilitators that provide assistance to distressed wildlife in Colorado,” said Jack Murphy, Wildlife Rehabilitation Board Member and Director of Urban Wildlife Rescue. “These rehabilitators are totally self-funded, so this grant is a great benefit for them and for our wildlife.”
     
    “This year’s awards represent a mix of immediate funding needs for day-to-day operations such as food and medical care, as well as longer-term investment in new and upgraded facilities for injured wildlife,” said Jim Guthrie, Program Coordinator for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Program. “Many of Colorado’s wildlife rehabilitation facilities operate on shoestring budgets. Individual donations are critical to their ongoing operations but Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants help wildlife rehabilitators meet growing public use for the care they provide and make investments in their facilities that might otherwise be financially impossible.”

    Among the work supported in the 2022 round of funding are:

    • Materials for a new flight cage at the Nature’s Educators facility in Sedalia
    • Food and medical supplies for a growing, new rehabilitation center at the SonFlower Ranch in Brighton
    • New specialized reptile and amphibian enclosures at the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center in Fort Collins
    • Food, supplies and medical services for the North Park Wildlife Rehabilitation Center southwest of Walden

    The Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants program was created through House Bill 17-1250. Funding for the grant program comes primarily from the non-game tax check-off program, along with fines from non-game wildlife-based offenses and interest income. For the first $250,000 raised annually, 10 percent is allocated to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Program, which aims to provide funding specifically for wildlife rehabilitation centers. For many rehabbers, this kind of funding fills a critical gap.

    Applications for Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards are due each year in early November. For more information on the grant program and application materials, please visit the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants page.
     
    2021 Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards
    Bill Main – Colorado Springs
    Medical services, food, supplies, expanded roof on raccoon enclosure
    Grant Award: $1,000

    N. Colorado Wildlife Center – Tallon Nightwalker
    Reptile and amphibian indoor enclosures
    Grant Award: $2,900

    North Park Wildlife Rehabilitation – Deb McLachlan
    Food, supplies, medical services
    Grant Award: $4,000

    Nature’s Educators, Sedalia – Emily Davenport
    Flight cage materials
    Grant Award: $4,000

    Dove Creek – Charles Littlejohn
    Raptor food
    Grant Award: $2,400

    Sonflower Ranch, Brighton – Keith Gunn
    Food, medical supplies, operating costs
    Grant Award: $8,500

    Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
    Veterinary tests and medical supplies
    Grant Award: $1,200

  • CPW makes unique donation to Louisville resident who lost home in Marshall Fire

    CPW makes unique donation to Louisville resident who lost home in Marshall Fire

    LOUISVILLE, Colo. – Louisville resident Fleetwood Mathews, who lost his home in the Dec. 30 Marshall Fire, like so many in his city and those across the highway in Superior, is working to get back on his feet. One piece important to his recovery journey was replacing what was in his freezer.

    Mathews moved to Colorado from Connecticut in 2002 for college where he graduated from the University of Colorado. While hunting wasn’t a family tradition, he picked up bowhunting seven years ago, and thanks to determination and local mentorship from a fellow hunter in Rifle, over the last four years he and his wife had transitioned to a more sustainable lifestyle. 

    “I was at the point where I didn’t have to buy any commercial red meat,” Mathews said. “All of the beef or elk that we had was either from a local Colorado rancher or from hunting. I haven’t bought a steak from the store in probably three or four years.”

    So when he lost two freezers full of meat that feeds his family, and specifically the elk he had just harvested during last fall’s archery season, he was devastated. Mathews met Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Scott Reffel, a Park Ranger at St. Vrain State Park, the day he returned to see the destruction of his home post-fire, and it led to a unique opportunity.

    Reffel had left the Mathews’ with his business card the day of their initial visit after the fire. Mathews, who is on the board of the Gamelines Archery Club in Boulder, reached out to a friend and Vice President of the club, who suggested he contact CPW to see if they could make something happen for him. So Mathews emailed Reffel regarding getting his late season list C elk hunting license reprinted so he could try to put some meat back in his freezer. Thanks to some friends in the hunting community, he was able to pick up a free freezer shortly after the fire.

    “When I contacted CPW about my license, I also asked if someone might be able to point me in the direction of a problem herd in my unit,” Mathews said. “I had pretty low expectations about being able to fill my tag because it’s very easy to be pessimistic when your house and everything in it burns to the ground.” 

    That email sparked CPW staff to see what they could do to help the family out.

    Wildlife officers had recently seized an elk carcass from an individual in illegal possession of the animal. When game meat is seized after unlawful activity and it is salvageable, wildlife officers will donate that meat to people and families in need.

    So on Friday, Jan. 28, wildlife officer Sam Peterson delivered a whole elk to Mathews.

    “I haven’t had a lot of interactions with CPW,” Mathews recalled. “I’ve called the hunt planners a few times and I’ve met a game warden once or twice. When I got the call from Sam a few hours after CPW emailed me back, I was shocked. I remember I was at the end of a very long day juggling being back at work and taking calls from the insurance company. To hear CPW was going to give me a whole elk reminded me that good things can still happen even when it feels like all is lost. CPW came through for me in a major way and I was so happy to meet Sam.”

    This was not a common opportunity to be able to donate game meat out, but one that was rewarding to wildlife officers.

    “Having responded to the Marshall Fire when it started, I cannot imagine the pain any families who lost their home are going through,” Peterson said. “The whole scene that day was very apocalyptic. When I heard a hunting family was looking for a helping hand, that was on the front of my mind a lot. That elk was in my truck for only about 10 minutes before I was making calls to track down Fleetwood. I’m really happy to have had the opportunity to help out such a nice and deserving family.”

    When the Mathews went back to try and see what was left of their home, there was a hard closure of Dyer Road that they lived on because substantial hazards remained. Even that day – which was five days after the fire – Reffel and the U.S. Forest Service crews on site had to extinguish two hot spot fires that flared up. Reffel contacted the Mathews’ as they looked to get to their home site.

    “I determined it was important for him and his wife and that it would be safe with me in the immediate area,” Reffel said. “I cleared the couple with the Incident Commander, who allowed them re-entry to view the home for the first time since it had burned.”

    The Mathews were on an acre property and Fleetwood had a full archery range he practiced at in the back. They had two freezers that stored the elk he harvested back in September along with about ¾ of a beef from a local ranch. He recalled the only things left were the metal remnants of one of his archery targets and the charred frames of his freezers.

    “When I went back to see what was left of my home, it looked like a warzone – like someone dropped napalm on our property,” Mathews said. “There was only ash and twisted metal. I spent a few minutes looking at my old freezers and all that was left were some charred bones and elk knuckles that I was going to make beef broth out of. I picked one of them up and it just fell apart in my hands. Beyond feeding my family, there were lots of memories associated with that meat and how I got it.

    “I had a whole elk, but hadn’t even had the first backstrap steak yet. Last year, I worked with two local ranchers; I got a half beef from a buddy of mine with the archery club and another half beef from Flying B Bar Ranch out east – that beef was Colorado wagyu and I had been saving all the good cuts for a special occasion. It just crushes me to think that there was thousands of dollars of meat in those freezers.”

    Now with the fresh elk meat supplied from CPW, Mathews said it will benefit his entire family.

    “I love elk meat – my whole family does,” he said. “My buddy, Matt, helped me process it real fast and because I wasn’t in the field, we got to make some fun cuts. I’m beyond pumped. My mom is cooking the neck roast as we speak – she was just as excited as I was to get it. It’s going to feed everyone in the family in 2022.”

    Though Mathews did not grow up hunting, he said it has now become a really big part of his life and identity.

    “Learning to bowhunt has been one of the most character-defining moments of my life,” Mathews said. “It has tested me in ways few things can and forced me to learn and adapt. I look forward to spending some alone time in the woods every season. It is one of those very few times where no one can reach me and the decisions of the day and objective are simple. I’ve definitely matured and grown as a person as a result of it.”

    Many law enforcement agencies and fire departments from across Colorado and beyond came to aid with emergency services the day of the fire and for weeks afterwards. 

    Six CPW wildlife officers from the Boulder County region and park rangers from Eldorado Canyon State Park responded the day of the fire.

    In the days following the fire, CPW’s field services made contact with incident command and worked with Northeast Region staff to schedule officers 24/7 to assist for seven days post-fire. In all, 43 wildlife and parks officers responded from as far away as Rangely, Colo., and there were many more officers who volunteered to help than shifts available. These officers ran roadblocks, patrolled impacted neighborhoods and helped respond to calls. 

    PHOTOS BELOW
    Row 1 (left): The Mathews’ home before the fire
    Row 1 (right): Fleetwood Mathews pictured, post-fire
    Row 2 (left) : Remnants of the Mathews’ home and car
    Row 2 (right): Mathews’ home post-fire
    Row 3 (left): Pictured is their new freezer storing the elk meat donated by CPW
    Row 3 (right): Processing the elk meat

  • CPW locates, collars gray wolf pup in North Park

    CPW locates, collars gray wolf pup in North Park

    A photo of 2202, the first gray wolf born and collared in Colorado. The female pup was fitted with a GPS collar in North Park on Feb. 9.
    Image: CPW/Eric Odell

    WALDEN, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife placed a GPS collar on a female wolf pup in North Park, Colorado, on Wednesday, Feb. 9. The collared pup will be identified as 2202. The first two numbers (22) indicate the year the animal was captured. The second set of numbers inform biologists of the wolf’s gender (males will have odd numbers, females will have even) and the order in which it was collared. 

    The pup is one of six produced by female wolf F1084 and male wolf 2101 in 2021, meaning the newly collared pup is one of eight wolves in the North Park area. F1084 is known to have migrated to Colorado from the Snake River Pack in Wyoming from a previously-fitted collar. That collar had stopped transmitting, leading to the decision to fit a GPS collar onto another member of the pack. 

    “The second GPS collar in this pack will allow our biologists and wildlife managers to learn more about the behavior of these naturally migrating wolves,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. 

    During the collaring effort, a CPW-contracted company safely darted the animal with a tranquilizer from a helicopter, allowing the collar to be fitted by field staff on the ground. 2202 is the first gray wolf born and collared in Colorado. 

    “The wolf pup was given a health exam during the collaring process and appears to be in good health,” said CPW Terrestrial Section Manager Brian Dreher.

    It is worth noting that, while collars provide valuable information, they only provide a snapshot and are not monitored in real time. The primary tools used by wildlife officers are field observations of physical evidence such as wolf prints and scat during field investigations to verify the presence of wolves on the landscape.

    CPW also encourages the public to use its wolf sighting form if they see a suspected wolf. Any personal observations, photos or videos taken can help inform CPW staff and fill in the gaps as to wolf activity in the state.

    Gray Wolves remain a State Endangered species, and wolves may not be taken for any reason other than human self-defense. Illegal take of a wolf may result in a combination of penalties, including fines of up to $100,000, a year of jail time, and a lifetime loss of hunting license privileges.

  • CBI’s Missing Children Poster Contest Deadline Extended to Feb. 14

    CBI’s Missing Children Poster Contest Deadline Extended to Feb. 14

    February 10, 2022 – CBI –  Lakewood, CO – The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has extended the deadline for entries for the Missing Children Poster contest to February 14. The contest is open to 5th grade students across Colorado as part of a national campaign sponsored by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

    Each year, the US DOJ takes time to commemorate the valiant and unselfish acts of the many organizations and individuals who bring our missing children home. Since 1983, May 25th has been designated as National Missing Children’s Day.

    The poster theme is “Bring Our Missing Children Home” and will feature the artistic talents of kids throughout the United States. All Colorado posters must be submitted to the CBI by February 14, 2022.  The national office will not accept any entries.  The poster representing the state of Colorado will be submitted to the national office.

    The DOJ will announce the winner at the annual National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony in Washington, DC on May 25, 2022. The winner of the national contest, along with his or her teacher and parents, will attend this special ceremony.

    In addition to the DOJ ceremony, the CBI will also recognize the top three Colorado students for their winning poster entries at an event in May.

    Submit posters to: 
    CBI
    Attn: Poster Contest
    690 Kipling St. Ste. 4000
    Denver, CO  80215

    Contact CBI Investigative Analyst Audrey Simkins at 303-239-5764 or  for information or questions.

    The complete packet of information can be found on the CBI website. One single entry will be submitted to DOJ on behalf of the state of Colorado.

    Thousands of children are reported missing in Colorado each year. Law enforcement, citizens, and even children have been instrumental in keeping children safe and returning them home to their families, community, and school.

    Attached is Colorado’s winning poster from 2021. 

  • Colorado sets new record for marijuana sales in a single year

    Colorado sets new record for marijuana sales in a single year

    DENVER, Colo. – February 10, 2021 – The Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) released December 2021 marijuana sales figures and January 2022 marijuana tax and fee revenue figures, and reports a new record for marijuana sales in a single year. In 2021, Colorado reports over $2.22 billion from marijuana sales (compared to the previous record of over $2.19 billion in 2020). Here is the summary:
     
    The Marijuana Sales Reports summarize total sales made by medical and retail marijuana stores monthly by county. The Marijuana Tax Reports show state tax and fee revenue collected monthly as posted in the Colorado state accounting system. Tax revenue comes from the state sales tax (2.9%) on marijuana sold in stores, the state retail marijuana sales tax (15%) on retail marijuana sold in stores, and the state retail marijuana excise tax (15%) on wholesale sales/transfers of retail marijuana. Fee revenue comes from marijuana license and application fees.
    To view the full reports, please visit the following CDOR Office of Research and Analysis (ORA)’s webpages:

  • Colorado Secretary of State’s Office Concludes Investigation of a Potential Breach in Security Protocol in Douglas County

    DENVER, Colo– Today, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released the following statement regarding the investigation of a potential breach of security protocols for voting system equipment in Douglas County.

    “After receiving responses from Douglas County, my office is satisfied that there is no current threat to the county’s election system. We have concluded our investigation,” said Secretary Jena Griswold. “As Secretary of State I will always do what is required to ensure that every Colorado voter, no matter their political affiliation, zip code, or amount of money in their bank account can make their voice heard in accessible and secure elections.”

    On January 28, 2022, the Secretary of State’s Office became aware of a potential security protocol breach when it was alerted to a social media post attributed to Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Merlin Klotz, which asserts that Clerk Klotz stated that “we, as always, took a full image backup of our server before a trusted build was done this year.” On January 28, 2022, the Secretary of State’s Office emailed the clerk for information. After receiving no response, on February 3, 2022, the Secretary of State sent an Order to Clerk Klotz requiring the disclosure of information regarding the potential copying of the election server, requiring that video surveillance of voting equipment be activated, and that no one access the voting equipment unaccompanied.

    On February 8, 2022, the County Attorney’s Office for Douglas County provided a response on behalf of Douglas County, with a signed statement from both Douglas County Clerk Klotz and Douglas County Deputy Clerk for Elections Jack Twite and a direct letter from Clerk Klotz himself. Douglas County’s submissions attest that Clerk Klotz has not had access to the voting equipment. Only specifically designated and authorized County elections staff have had access to the hardware components of Douglas County’s Election Systems. All individuals with authorized access were contacted, and confirmed that no images of the hard drives were created by them and that no unauthorized person has had physical or system access of any kind at any time.

    Douglas County has further confirmed that the premises where the County’s voting system hardware is kept are secured 24/7 with only one card-controlled access, and after reviewing a full year’s worth of access records, the county reported that it “detected no unauthorized access.” The county confirmed that because no unauthorized access was granted to the voting equipment at any time, “we believe that no such images could have been created.” Similarly, Douglas County Clerk Klotz recanted his statement that an image was created.

    The Douglas County investigation concluded that neither Clerk Klotz nor any third person had access to create unauthorized images.

    The information provided by Douglas County has satisfied the February 3, 2022 Order and the Secretary of State Office’s investigation into the potential breach in election security protocol has concluded.

  • Statement from Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Regarding the Investigation of a Potential Breach in Security Protocol in Douglas County

    Statement from Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Regarding the Investigation of a Potential Breach in Security Protocol in Douglas County

    Denver, February 3, 2022 – Today, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released the following statement regarding the investigation of a potential breach of security protocols for voting system equipment in Douglas County and the Election Order issued to Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Merlin Klotz requiring the disclosure of relevant information.

    “My office became aware of a potential unauthorized imaging of a Douglas County voting equipment server. The Douglas County Clerk has failed to respond to an email request requiring disclosure of information about this potential breach in election security protocol.” said Secretary Jena Griswold. “To ensure the security of Douglas County’s voting equipment, I am issuing an Election Order requiring the Douglas Clerk to disclose information regarding the imaging of the election equipment server. As Secretary of State, I will continue to protect Colorado’s election infrastructure to ensure that every eligible Coloradan – Republican, Democrat, and Independent, alike – has access to secure elections.

    ”On January 28, 2022, the Secretary of State’s Office became aware of the potential security protocol breach when it was alerted to a social media post attributed to Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Merlin Klotz which asserts Clerk Klotz stated that “a full image backup of our server before a trusted build was done this year” was taken. On January 28, 2022, the Department of State sent Clerk Klotz an email requesting information regarding the alleged incident, with an answer due to the Department of State by January 31, 2022. Clerk Klotz did not answer and has not answered.

    Today, the Secretary of State sent an Order to Clerk Klotz requiring the disclosure of information regarding the copying of the election server, requiring that video surveillance of voting equipment be activated, and that no one access the voting equipment unaccompanied.

    This potential breach in security protocol reportedly occurred prior to the 2021 trusted build of Douglas County’s 2021 voting equipment, which updates systems against vulnerabilities. Therefore, the Secretary of State’s Office does not believe at this time that the unauthorized imaging has created an imminent or direct security risk to Colorado’s elections.

  • Colorado Missing Persons Day—February 4, 2022 Ceremony to be held at State Capitol

    Colorado Missing Persons Day—February 4, 2022 Ceremony to be held at State Capitol

    February 2, 2022 – CBI – Lakewood, CO — Colorado Missing Persons Day is being honored with a series of events at the state Capitol building (200 E. Colfax Avenue) beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 4, 2022. In addition to a Resolution being read at the Capitol, a prayer vigil will honor more than 1,000 individuals currently missing for more than six months in the State of Colorado.

    The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will also post the list of those missing in Colorado as of February 4 to its website on the day of the event, as well as display a slide show featuring some missing person cases in the state.

    Order of events at the State Capitol Building on February 4, 2022

    • 8:00 a.m. – Family members of the missing invited to begin gathering in Senate Committee Room 352.
      • Note: Masks are required for attendance at the events taking place inside the Capitol.        
    • 9:00 a.m.— Colorado Missing Persons Day Resolution read during the Senate session.
    • 10:00 a.m.— Prayer vigil and reading of the names of the missing on the West Steps of the Capitol building. (This event will immediately follow the reading of the Resolution).

    “The CBI remains dedicated to identifying information about those missing in the state, through the Cold Case Database, Cold Case Task Force, and partnerships built with local and national law enforcement agencies and organizations focused on locating missing persons,” said CBI Director John Camper. “Our investigative agents, analysts and forensic scientists not only support our law enforcement community to help bring resolution to these cases, but have also dedicated resources available to families who are navigating the challenges associated with having a missing loved one.”

    Family members and friends are asked to share a short tribute about their loved one on the Colorado Missing Person Day Memoriam page created in their honor.  (https://www.forevermissed.com/coloradomissingpersonsday/about)  

    Colorado Missing Persons Day is sponsored by Colorado State Senator Jerry Sonnenberg and Colorado State Senator Rhonda Fields.

    Note: CBI Victim Advocates are available for any family member of those missing needing additional support during this difficult time.  To contact a CBI Victim Advocate, please call (303) 239-4649.