The Clear Creek County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) appointed Ron Thornton as Sheriff today, Nov. 18, 2025. Sheriff Thornton will be sworn in tomorrow, Nov. 19, and will serve for the remainder of the current term, which expires after the 2026 General Election. 

Sheriff Thornton is committed to community engagement, strengthening trust, and ensuring accountability. He explains, “I am deeply devoted to this community and moving the Sheriff’s Office forward. We have come a long way over the past two years, and I intend to continue our progress. We will keep our focus on fiscal responsibility, modernizing operations, improving training, and most importantly, community trust. I am excited to serve the county as sheriff and am humbled for the opportunity to lead our team of dedicated, professional staff.”

At today’s BoCC meeting, Commissioner and Board Chair George Marlin voiced his support for Sheriff Thornton: “I am grateful for his commitment to continuing to pursue professionalism within the Sheriff’s Office. It was important for me to hear that he has learned a lot from past events and shares the vision of improvement, progress, and accountability. My hope is that under Sheriff Thornton’s leadership, we can demonstrate the changes that have been made and continue on that path to ensure adequate and appropriate law enforcement response.” 

Sheriff Thornton has been with the Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for eight years, most recently as a patrol supervisor. Prior to joining the CCSO in 2017, Sheriff Thornton served 11 concurrent years with both the Park County Sheriff’s Office and the Platte Canyon Fire District; the latter as a captain for 13 years. In addition to public safety leadership, Sheriff Thornton has extensive experience in budget oversight, operational efficiency, inter-agency coordination, and critical incident management.  

Sheriff Thornton’s appointment ensures stability for the Sheriff’s Office and seamless continuity of law enforcement services for the Clear Creek community.