Bennett, facing financial apprehensions, has resolved not to extend its contract with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services. Effective January 1, the partnership between Bennett and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office will cease as the contract concludes following unsuccessful negotiations between the town’s board of trustees and the Sheriff’s Office.
Trish Stiles, the town’s manager, cited unexpected cost increases as the primary factor in the decision. “We entered into negotiations and attempted in good faith to work through those negotiations. Unfortunately, those costs were higher than I think the board of trustees had anticipated,” Stiles remarked.
The town’s board had anticipated a 6% increase in the contract for 2024, based on previous years. However, the proposed contract presented a staggering 26% hike, catching the board off guard. Stiles explained, “We saw about a 6% increase in calls for service in the last report, and then inflation is probably hovering around that same number, so we thought that that was a fairly accurate increase we thought we would see. We weren’t expecting the 26.”
CBS News Colorado questioned Adams County Sheriff Gene Claps about the cost escalation, to which Claps asserted, “Our prices are not something that can be changed.” Claps clarified that Bennett had received a discounted contract rate of $390,000 in 2022 and 2023 due to financial difficulties. The Sheriff’s Office requested $490,000 for 2024, aiming to cover the true costs of services provided.
The costs are attributed to factors such as employee salaries, vehicle fuel and maintenance, detectives, and other staffing, along with access to non-personnel resources, including the county’s crime lab. Claps emphasized, “It’s the price that it costs the county and the sheriff’s office to supply services to that municipality or that township, and it’s something that I can’t negotiate.”
Despite the contract termination, the Sheriff’s Office will continue billing Bennett on a month-to-month basis, ensuring the provision of resources during the transitional period. Claps expressed a willingness to collaborate with Bennett’s trustees to devise a plan for the future, emphasizing the importance of a considerate approach.
Trish Stiles assured the community of a safe and smooth transition, noting that while both Adams and Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Offices will temporarily share law enforcement responsibilities for Bennett residents, the town is actively working to finalize a contract with Arapahoe County to assume control over the entire region. Stiles estimates the transition to take approximately 30 to 60 days, ensuring residents’ safety needs will be met seamlessly throughout the process.
In response to whether Bennett would contemplate establishing its own police department, Stiles indicated that, for now, it doesn’t align with the community’s financial standpoint. However, it remains an option for consideration in the future.