Law enforcement agencies across the West work to improve public safety
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The vast, open landscapes of the West pose a significant challenge for any law enforcement agency. These areas often encompass a checkerboard of federal, state and private lands, with overlapping jurisdictions and remote locations making it difficult for those who patrol them. Cooperation and coordination among agencies is essential, as shown by a recent incident near Cortez, Colorado.
On November 22, a BLM Ranger assigned to the Tres Rios Field Office responded to a Colorado State Patrol call for assistance in the pursuit of two suspected car thieves. The Durango Police Department had circulated photos of the suspects and their stolen vehicle online, which generated a number of citizen reports. BLM joined the pursuit along Highway 145 before the trooper called off the chase. A short time later, officers with the Cortez Police Department apprehended the couple, using spike strips to flatten the car’s tires.
“This is one example of how BLM law enforcement works cooperatively with state and local law enforcement agencies across the West almost every day,” said William Perry Pendley, BLM Deputy Director for Policy and Programs.
“It’s not limited to tracking down bad guys. Our Rangers help with search-and-rescue operations and conduct welfare checks as well as confronting criminals endangering the safety of those visiting federal lands as well as those engaged in drug and human smuggling, illegal dumping, thieving and destruction of cultural artifacts, drug cultivation, and vandalism.”
The BLM currently has 99 active law enforcement contracts throughout California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. These contracts fund patrol, investigation, or dispatch services provided by sheriff’s offices. As regional law enforcement partners dedicated to the safety and security of our communities, the BLM encourages Rangers to develop working relationships with local law enforcement and be an available resource.
With regard to the suspected car thieves arrested in Colorado, officers found stolen credit cards, thousands of dollars in fraudulently purchased gift cards, stolen license plates, a stolen handgun, and illegal drugs when they caught up to the pair, one of whom had an active warrant in New Mexico. Both suspects face multiple felony charges across multiple counties and states.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.