Denver Sheriff Department
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 About the Denver Sheriff Department Minimize
 
 

DEDICATION
SERVICE
DUTY
 
The Denver Sheriff Department is the third largest criminal justice agency in the State of Colorado, following the Denver Police Department and the Colorado Department of Corrections.
 
Thirty percent (30%) of all inmates sentenced to the Colorado Department of Corrections are from the City and County of Denver.  
 
Staffing within the Department includes 3 Division Chiefs, 5 Majors, 18 Captains, 72 Sergeants, 662 deputies and 124 civilians.
  
The Denver jails hold the distinction for being the first local detention facilities in the United States to be accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). This distinction was once again realized on August 10, 2009 when the Denver Sheriff Department was awarded American Correctional Association Accreditation.
 
Both facilities also hold National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) accreditation.
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 Our Mission and Vision Minimize

Vision

Our vision is to provide public safety and security for the community by ensuring secure care, custody and transportation of detainees and operating safe, secure, efficient and humane facilities that adhere to Federal, State and local laws.

Mission  

The Denver Sheriff Department mission is to:

  • Achieve and maintain ACA Accreditation.
  • Improve the quality of service with innovative programming, training and the use of emerging technologies.
  • Promote diversity, leadership, partnerships and best practices through collaboration and staff participation.
  • Foster open and effective communication with the community.
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 Denver Sheriff Department History Minimize
The Denver Sheriff Department was created on December 2, 1902 with the creation of the City and County of Denver. On January 1, 1904, Article XX (the Rush Amendment) of the Colorado Constitution establishing a home rule form of government in Denver was found constitutional and the boundaries of the City of Denver became the same as that of the County of Denver. 
 
Due to this action, there was no need for two law enforcement bodies within the same jurisdiction.  Since the Denver Police Department was already performing the patrol duties in the city it was decided that the Denver Sheriff Department would only perform the duties as defined by state law; meaning the Denver Deputy Sheriffs would be assigned to the courts and jails.  This remains the primary function of the Department today.  
 
The City and County of Denver does not have an elected sheriff, the Manager of Safety is the de-facto sheriff and the department is directly supervised by the Director of Corrections, who is also the Undersheriff. 
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 Manager of Safety, Alvin LaCabe Minimize


Alvin LaCabe
Manager of Safety
 
The Denver Sheriff Department is unique in all of Colorado. Our "Sheriff", Alvin LaCabe was appointed as Manager of Public Safety by Mayor John Hickenlooper on July 20, 2003. LaCabe brings over two decades of law enforcement and legal experience to his new role in overseeing the city's law enforcement and safety divisions, including the Denver Police, Fire and Sheriff's Departments.
 
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