SHUTTERSTOCK

Michael McIntosh

Profession: Law Enforcement. Currently serving as Chief Deputy, Douglas County Sheriff's Office

City of residence: Brighton, CO

About me

I’ve been an Adams County resident nearly all my life. My wife of 35 years, children, and grandchildren all call Adams County home.

When I joined the U.S. Navy, I discovered my passion for community service. Shortly after my tour of duty, I started with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office to serve people closer to home. During my 34 years with the Sheriff’s Office, I’ve worked in nearly every position and in every division, ultimately becoming Sheriff until my retirement in 2019. I entered the Sheriff’s campaign to restore trust between the ACSO and our community. 

Campaign website

www.bringmacback.com; Facebook: @SheriffMichaelMcIntosh; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-integrityleaders/ Twitter: @mtmcintosh33 Instagram: @michael.mcintosh.9047        

What makes you the best candidate for job?

Trusted leadership is the best way to fight against escalating crime. My opponent has been out of law enforcement leadership for nearly four years, but I have continued to lead agencies through current, unique challenges.

My past experience as the Adams County Sheriff is key. I have the support of law enforcement personnel and they trust my leadership. I’ve already undergone the huge learning curve of the Sheriff’s role. My extensive training and experience are the foundation to immediately begin working with deputies, law enforcement partners and members of the community to provide the best possible service to Adams County.  

If elected, how will your Adams County Sheriff's Department differ from the current department?

When I retired as the Adams County Sheriff in 2019, it was heartbreaking to watch community focus erode.

As your next Sheriff, I’ll lead the charge to focus on serving our community and all of the different cultures represented in Adams County. In the last four years, relationships between the Sheriff’s Office and other police agencies have also deteriorated. I’ve met with police chiefs and know we’re like-minded when it comes to prioritizing crime, joining efforts, and pooling resources. Together we’ll work toward making Adams County a safer, more enjoyable place to live. 

What reforms, if any, should the Adams County Sheriff’s Department enact to fairly police and protect all county residents?

In nearly 35 years of law enforcement, I’ve not seen collaboration collapse the way it has. We must stop working in a silo and establish open communication within our diverse community. I’ve already formed an ACTION Team (Adams County Transparency in our Neighborhoods) to listen to representatives from different backgrounds, cultures, and religious beliefs. We listen carefully to learn how we can better respond to different needs and different situations. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to law enforcement, we can make sure we’re taking care of the specific needs in the different cultures represented in Adams County.

Does the Adams County Sheriff's Department have an adequate budget and staff? 

Law enforcement in Adams County has generally been well supported with adequately funded budgets. However, pay raises for deputies and staff have not kept us with the metro-area job market. This must be addressed and is one of the reasons the Sheriff’s Office is currently short 40 deputies. There are other major factors involved as well, including a lack of trust in the current administration, a tarnished brand, and the absence of a common mission. All of these issues will be addressed and rectified within my 90-day leadership plan. 

What can be done at the county level to reduce crime?

My crime reduction plan has three main elements: 

1) Earn trust/respect of deputies. I’ve spent my career working on this. In fact, deputies asked me to come out of retirement and begin my campaign.

2) Restore connection with law enforcement partners. Once we unify, agencies can prevail upon the DA and legislators to help our efforts to reduce crime.

3) Connect with community groups. As mentioned above, I am already fully vested in this process and will restore community connection that I worked so hard to establish as your Sheriff from 2015-2019. https://bringmacback.com/blog/scale-back-crime