Eleven hundred square miles. Six towns. One sheriff's office. I'm running because how long you wait for help shouldn't depend on which end of Delta County you live on.
The distance problem
Delta County covers roughly 1,150 square miles with about 31,000 people spread across it. When you call 911 from a dirt road outside Crawford, the honest question isn't whether a deputy is coming — it's how long.
Drive times are estimates from the Sheriff's Office in Delta under normal conditions. Add winter, a closed road, or a deputy already on a call, and the wait grows. Ask me for the actual average response time by district — I'll publish it.
Where I stand
Staffing should follow geography, not habit. I'll shift patrol assignments so Paonia, Hotchkiss, Crawford and Somerset have a deputy stationed on their end of the county through the night — not dispatched from forty minutes away.
A monthly public report: calls answered, response times by district, use-of-force incidents, jail population, and what the budget actually bought. Posted online, in plain English, whether the numbers look good or bad.
Equipment theft, fuel siphoning, cut fence, rustled livestock, and mail theft hit working families hardest and get written off as unsolvable. I'll build a real ag-crime response with the brand inspector and neighboring counties.
Go hard after the people trafficking fentanyl into this county. For the people in crisis or addiction, work with local providers so a jail cell isn't the only option a deputy has at 2 a.m.
The duty of fire warden falls to the sheriff's office. As sheriff I'll coordinate with Delta County firefighters ahead of time and organize the community to create action plans for fire prevention, evacuation of people and animals, and public participation in firefighting operations.
Meet Demitri
I've spent most of my life here in Delta County. I grew up here and have put roots into the community.
After becoming a driver for the local EMS, I'm more convinced than ever before of the benefits of our county services.
I chose to run for Sheriff because I believe in doing my part to improve my home. What man is a man who does not make his home better?
Furthermore, I've been disturbed by several national trends of late. The spread of Flock cameras, the trampling of constitutional rights by federal agents and the rise of data centers have all been forced upon Americans at an alarming rate and with little public input. As Americans, I believe that it's our right to opt out of any system that threatens our cherished liberties and, as sheriff, I will work with the public to protect our community from these growing threats.
Get involvedThe badge belongs to the county, not the man wearing it.
— Demitri Stelter
Get involved
This race is won at the feed store, the fairgrounds, and the front porch. Sign up and we'll get you a yard sign — or put you to work.
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How to vote
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