An Organization Engaged

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has developed partnerships with groups and organizations inspired and committed to their community.

Bigs and Badges through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado-Pikes Peak

The Community Relations and Outreach Unit has been partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado-Pikes Peak since 2019.

The program is designed to create a bond between local youth and first responder personnel through events setup by Big Brothers and Big Sisters.  They have an existing database and approved applications for at-risk youth, and from that database, they pair them with a first responder from our community.  Many of these youth need a positive mentor in their life and this program will allow that to happen while they bond and enjoy sporting events together.  The program pays for the bigs (the first responders) and the littles (the youth) to attend sports events together and/or play athletic sports with one another.  All of the events are coordinated through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Colorado.

Interested deputies commit to one day per month, for six months.  There is no other contact or communication between “bigs” and “littles” outside of the events as it is against the regulations of the program. Many of the youth involved dream of becoming a first responder and look up to their bigs.  Our deputies and professional staff find complete joy in being a mentor to our youth in our community. 

Special Olympics

The Sheriff's Office has a long-standing partnership with Special Olympics Colorado and their wonderful athletes. For many years, the Sheriff's Office has been a state leader not only in fundraising but event participation.  The Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year.

Since 2015, EPSO has raised over $232,402.00 for Special Olympic Athletes in the State of Colorado and has participated in numerous fundraising events such as: Tip A Cop, Polar Plunge, Law Enforcement Torch Run, and the No Shave Event. EPSO participates in Unified Sports, competing with and against Special Olympic Athletes.

The Sheriff's Office has received the following recognition and awards for their support of Special Olympic Athletes:

2015 – Agency of the Year for State of Colorado

2016 – Guardian of the Year Deputy Keenan Dukes

2016 – Polar Plunge: Highest Fundraising LETR Team

2017 – Top Fundraising Agency for State of Colorado

2017 – Polar Plunge: Highest LETR Fundraising Team

2018 – Law Enforcement Agency of the Year

2018 – Elected into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame for the State of Colorado

2018 – Polar Plunge – Top Fundraising LETR Division

2020 – Law Enforcement Agency of the Year for the State of Colorado

The Sheriff's Office remains committed to assisting athletes who are seeking inclusion and to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities

EPSO has committed itself, as an agency, to support the AMAZING athletes who participate in Special Olympics.  This is another great example of EPSO’s commitment to the community we serve.