A billboard in Denver paid for by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming is recruiting deputies to work in Wyoming and is making a jab at the city’s progressive policies. The billboard reads, “Work in Wyoming where breaking the law is still illegal & cops are funded!” and was put up during National Police Week. Sheriff Brian Kozak paid $2,500 for the advertisement in an effort to attract officers from areas with what he considers to be liberal law enforcement politics.
The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office has been struggling with 90 vacancies when Kozak started just over a year ago, so they launched a digital media campaign focused on areas where they believe liberal politics are influencing law enforcement. They specifically targeted Denver, where policies such as defunding the police by $8 million have been implemented. The goal of the campaign is to bring in new deputies who may be frustrated with the limitations placed on their jobs in more progressive cities.
The marketing campaign has been successful so far, bringing in 40 new applications and receiving 20 to 40 contact requests every day since the billboard was put up. Kozak revealed that they hired 72 people last year as a result of their marketing strategy, with feedback from law enforcement officers hired from the Denver area indicating that it was an effective campaign strategy. The Sheriff’s Office hopes to attract more officers who want to be able to do their jobs fully without facing restrictions.
Despite backlash from some who believe the campaign mischaracterizes Denver’s policies, there has also been support for the move. Many comments on the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office post expressed enthusiasm for the campaign and praised Sheriff Kozak for his proactivity in addressing the issue of frustrated officers. Some Denver residents have even offered to fund the billboard as a sign of their dissatisfaction with the political direction of the city and their support for the message being broadcast.
The City of Denver has pushed back against the characterization that they are defunding the police, stating that budget adjustments were made in consultation with safety leaders to ensure there would be no impact on public services. They maintain that Mayor Johnston has invested in adding new police recruits to the force in the coming years and will continue investing in public safety. Despite this clarification, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office continues to stand by their message and the campaign to recruit deputies who want to work in a supportive community environment.
Overall, the billboard campaign launched by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming has generated attention and interest from officers and community members in Denver as well as support from those who believe in its message. By highlighting the differences in law enforcement policies between Denver and Wyoming, the campaign aims to attract new deputies who are frustrated with the limitations placed on their jobs and want to work in an environment that fully supports law enforcement. Sheriff Kozak hopes to continue the success of the marketing campaign and bring in more officers to fill the vacancies in Laramie County.
