After 13 weeks of spending Wednesday nights in Montrose learning about law enforcement, specifically the workings of the Montrose County Sheriff's Office, Troy Masters and 9 other participants were honored with a completion ceremony Jan. 28. Called the Montrose County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy, Masters is the first person from the West End to ever join the program.
Held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the sheriff’s office’s conference room in Montrose, the program has been ongoing for several years. During the 13 weeks — and Masters never missed one, even if it meant having to stay the night in Montrose because of weather — the group visited the dispatch center, explored the relationship with airport security at Montrose Regional Airport, learned about tactical operations including with the SWAT vehicle and bearcat, and detention and the jail, plus more. He was educated about the mounted patrol and K-9 units too.
“A big part of me doing this is I want to help improve the connection and relationship with the sheriff’s office locally and thought ‘great, this is a way to make connections and build understanding as a whole,’” Masters said in an interview. “It was really cool actually.”
Masters said he was not only impressed by the caliber of personnel, but also by the organization of the agency. West End Commander Bruce Schmalz, along with wife and first-responder Beverly, was a part of one of the evening’s educational sessions.
Sheriff Gene Lillard, who was also a part of a session, told the Forum it was a pleasure having Masters there.
“He made the trip around and over the hill and attended all of the classes,” Lillard said. “We would love to see more participants from the west end of our county but certainly understand the hardship to drive over on a weekly basis to attend.”
Last Wednesday night’s ceremony included certificates, cake and more. What’s next for the graduates though, especially Masters? The Forum asked what he would do with the information he learned in the program.
Masters said he’s wanted to help get a neighborhood watch in place for the West End the last few years, but never felt “equipped” to do so.
“Now I do,” he said. “I feel better informed.”
Overall, Masters said he has more understanding of the sheriff’s office’s strengths and challenges, including the resources and contacts. And, while he knows it’s not easy for anyone in Nucla or Naturita to commit to the citizens’ class commute like he did, he hopes to be more of a bridge between the sheriff’s office and the West End.
He’d like to help build connection through some sort of an engagement event at an upcoming town-wide celebration, perhaps with the mounted police or something else. Masters said he appreciates the deputies in the West End for sure, but there’s also a lot of talent on the east side of the county.
“Right now there is a lot of scrutiny and focus on law enforcement in the country, and for me it was reassuring to see they do have this very robust training, and vetting, program,” he said. “Their tactics, their capabilities — I am impressed.”
Masters said on a local level there’s a divide too, and the road over the Uncompaghre Plateau is a sort of symbol that the east and west ends of Montrose County are indeed separated. He said he wants to be a part of anything that can bring people together.
“I am happy to be a part of it,” he said.
Lillard confirmed more will be happening.
“Troy and I talked after graduation, and he was very impressed with content, transparency and the sheriff’s office employees, and WESTCO dispatch that instructed,” he said. “We will plan a get-together when the winter is passed to organize a meeting for neighborhood watch, corrections, SWAT, patrol and administration, the dive team and mounted patrol for a meet and greet with the West End citizens to make it an educational and productive event.”
