How Does Niwot Work? - Part 21

"Sheriff Joe" has a very different connotation in these parts than in Arizona. Joe Pelle has served as Boulder County Sheriff for over 18 years and is in what appears to be his final term, which expires in 2022.

Pelle is a former Niwot resident, and his wife Stephanie Pelle worked in the Niwot Post Office for many years. As a result, many Niwot residents are on a first-name basis with the sheriff, which is comforting considering that the Boulder County Sheriff's Department is the law enforcement agency serving Niwot.

As an unincorporated community, Niwot does not have its own police department, nor are there any local ordinances to enforce. Instead, Niwot is governed by state law and by Boulder County regulations adopted by the Boulder County Commissioners. Several other small towns such as Lyons are incorporated. But instead of hiring their own police force, they contract with the Boulder County Sheriff to provide law enforcement within their boundaries.

Additional law enforcement is provided in the Niwot area by the Colorado State Patrol when it comes to enforcing traffic laws or investigating accidents on state highways.

Pelle took office after former Boulder County Sheriff George Epp retired after 30 years with the Boulder County Sheriff's Department, including three terms as sheriff beginning with his election in 1990. Epp retired after being term-limited, and Pelle was elected in 2002, taking office in January 2003. Epp now lives in Niwot and is often seen attending community events.

Pelle was re-elected in 2006 and 2010, and would have been term-limited thereafter, but a ballot issue approved by voters allowed him to run for a fourth term in 2014, which he won overwhelmingly. When his term was about to be up in 2018, voters again approved an extension of term-limits for the office, and Pelle was elected to a fifth term, which will expire at the end of 2022.

The sheriff's office provides officers at community events, such as the 4th of July parade, and large events such as the Rock & Rails Summer Concert Series contracts with the sheriff's office for security services. Niwot High School has had a School Resource Officer from the sheriff's department for many years. Ken Rosales now serves in that position.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Department maintains a substation in Niwot, located in the Mountain View Fire Rescue station at 8500 Niwot Road. For many years, the substation was located in Cottonwood Square, but the department now shares space at the fire station in Niwot. For non-emergency calls, the sheriff's department can be reached at 720-564-2689. For emergencies, always dial 911.

Get to know your local law enforcement personnel, including K-9 officers, at Niwot's annual National Night Out Aug. 3 at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Murray Street in Niwot, from 6 - 8 p.m.