Professional standards promote cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Federal, state, and local authorities will be more inclined to involve a sheriff's office in cooperative law enforcement operations if sheriffs are well qualified. Similarly, sheriffs will be more likely to cooperate with one another if they are confident in the other's abilities. Better trained sheriffs will result in more efficient investigations and fewer claims of misconduct and lawsuits involving liability. Criminals will be apprehended more quickly and fewer criminals will be released prematurely because of lack of evidence or errors made during the initial investigation.
Statutory requirements are necessary to ensure that sheriffs are trained and qualified.
Greater turnover in office will result in an increased need for training. In 1994, Colorado voters limited local elected officials to two terms of office, unless voters in a local government exempt themselves from this provision. In some counties, the turnover will result in less experience in the office of sheriff and a need for training programs to ensure that consistent and professional law enforcement is provided. All other law enforcement officers in Colorado must be certified, including employees of the county sheriff. This proposal brings the office of county sheriff into line with the standards that other law enforcement officials must meet.