A small crowd of citizens, including visitors from Hartsel and Fairplay, braved the freezing cold and snow to attend an event organized by Sheriff candidate Michael Graves and the man he would like to have serve as his Undersheriff. Former Park County Deputy Randy Wagner also spoke to the group as the potential second in command. The event was scheduled to go from 7 pm until 8 pm, but extended until 9 pm with citizens' questions and those who stayed over to personally meet and talk with the candidate.

Graves invited the group to visit his website for details on his military experience and extensive training in law enforcement, as well as his background growing up in rural Colorado. He said that he thought Sheriff Wegener had done the best that he could with the experience that he had. However, Graves continued, after twelve years of a law enforcement approach with little advancement or community policing, he thought it was time to bring more experience, openness, and professional training to Park County to protect both its citizens and its deputies. He also said that trained mediators and community resource officers should be part of community policing to handle disputes among neighbors before situations escalate.

Graves expressed serious concern that the 2008 budget and financial report for the Sheriff's Office included only $4,000 for training, and that even that training budget had now been eliminated completely in favor of informal internal training only. He said that the lack of training results in higher incidents of lost lawsuits resulting in “closed door” settlements that are expensive for the county taxpayers.

The candidate stressed the importance of openness and transparency in the department and that law enforcement is there to serve the public. He said he would push for an independent audit of the Sheriff's department if he is elected, separate from the standard county audits. “I can't tell you where the $1 million deficit has really been going until that is done,” he said. He questioned why the commissioners had not publicly objected to the Sheriff overspending his budget year after year. He said that the Sheriff is accountable to the commissioners and the public, just as any other public official.

An independent Internal Affairs is another issue Graves feels is important. He said he does not think that personnel issues should be handled with political or preferential influence, but objectively by independent investigation. If a deputy or other employee is accused of violating policy, the determination should not be based on a biased action, but an independent review, according to Graves.

Randy Wagner then spoke to the group as the person who would be Graves' Undersheriff, if Graves wins the election. Wagner was a deputy in Park County for two years before leaving due to dissatisfaction with the operation of the Park County Sheriff's Office. Wagner said that he went to work with Denver Police and significantly advanced his training. “In Park County, I received two weeks of field training and a real estate map,” said Wagner. “Then I was sent out on my own.” He said that, in all the time he worked here, he was only sent to the firing range two times to qualify in firearms.

Wagner also said that he thought Fred Wegener had done the best that he could with his limited experience and training. Wagner stated that his own training includes a focus and expertise in narcotics, and that there is still a drug problem in Park County. Wagner said that he is qualified to “train trainers” and would work to help Graves elevate the level of professional training in all sections of the department. He added that he is also a trained grant-writer and could help in acquisition of equipment without putting all of the burden on the county taxpayers.

Wagner expressed concern that a command-level officer in Park County SWAT lives in Westminster, a Jefferson County community an hour away from northeast Park County, and commutes in his county vehicle each day. He said that the officer cannot respond in a timely manner but costs the taxpayers a significant amount of money by using the Park County department car to commute to his distant home for several years now.

Graves and Wagner both expressed the belief that the Sheriff and Undersheriff should be accessible to the public and that the Sheriff is responsible for what his officers do in their official capacity under his command.

Both men stayed to meet the attendees after the meeting and discussed issues of personal concern to several citizens in attendance.