The bill makes several updates to the Colorado Rangers Law Enforcement Shared Reserve (CLER), a statewide law enforcement agency, with the goal of improving its operations and clarifying its status and authority:
Clarifying Status and Authority:
Sections 1-4 clarify that the CLER is a governmental entity established through an intergovernmental agreement, not a volunteer organization as it was before 2018.
The bill also emphasizes that a Colorado Ranger must be P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certified to be a peace officer within the CLER.
The bill specifies the scope of authority for a Colorado Ranger as a peace officer, ensuring their responsibilities and powers are clearly defined.
Compensation for Colorado Rangers:
Section 5 allows the CLER board to establish policies for compensation for Colorado Rangers under certain conditions:
If a Ranger is deployed as a peace officer in a jurisdiction for an extended period of time.
If a Ranger is deployed as a peace officer outside the state under an interstate compact for any length of time.
Acceptance of Gifts, Grants, and Donations:
The bill authorizes the CLER to accept gifts, grants, and donations, providing additional resources for its operations and activities.
These updates aim to strengthen the CLER's role as a certified and compensated law enforcement agency, as well as ensure it has the resources to continue fulfilling its mission to promote safety, security, and welfare across Colorado.
Summary
The Colorado rangers law enforcement shared reserve, commonly
known as the Colorado rangers (CLER), is a statewide law enforcement agency that has been established as a political subdivision of the state through the execution of an intergovernmental agreement for the public purpose of promoting the safety, security, and general welfare of all Coloradans by establishing a peace officers standards and training board (P.O.S.T. board) certified statewide shared peace officer reserve force. Sections 1 through 4 of the bill update laws relating to civil
defense workers and peace officers to clarify the status of the CLER as a governmental entity created by intergovernmental agreement rather than as a volunteer organization, as it was prior to 2018, the requirement that a Colorado ranger be a P.O.S.T. board certified peace officer, and the scope of a Colorado ranger's authority. Section 5: •
Authorizes the board of the CLER to establish policies to allow compensation to be paid to a Colorado ranger if the Colorado ranger: •
Is deployed as a peace officer to a jurisdiction for an extended period, as defined or described in the policies; or
•
Is deployed as a peace officer outside the state as authorized by a specified interstate compact for any length of time; and
•
Authorizes the CLER to accept gifts, grants, and donations.
