Estes Park Police name new commander

Jerimiah Polucha, an interim captain with the Estes Park Police Department, has been named to the new position of commander, the EPPD announced this week. Polucha has been in law enforcement for twenty years, serving as a sergeant, detective, school resource officer, patrol officer, and constable with the Royal New Zealand Police.

Learn how the police do their job

Get behind the scenes to learn a bit about things like crime scene investigation, DUI Enforcement patrol operations, investigations, the Estes Park Emergency Communication Center, the Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership, and the Auxiliary Police unit when you attend the 2026 Community Police Academy.

Sponsored by the town’s Police Department and offered free of charge, classes provided by the academy will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays from Jan. 26 through Feb. 26 at the Estes Park Museum, 200 4th St. Class size is limited to 30.

Applications are available at the front desk of the Police Department at Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Ave, or click here. Applications must be received by Friday, Jan. 16, and should be returned to Peni Barnes at the Estes Park Police Department front desk or via email. Applicants will be required to pass a limited criminal background check prior to acceptance.

Last chance to get rid of those lights – Jan. 15

With the holiday lighting season officially over, there are just a few days remaining to recycle old Christmas tree lights for free in Estes Park.

Through Jan. 15, individuals can drop off unwanted strings of tree lights that have no ornaments or wrapping at the Estes Valley Public Library, Estes Valley Recreation Center, Estes Park Elementary, Middle and High Schools, and at National Park Village. The project is sponsored by the Sunrise Rotary Club. Artificial trees are not accepted.

Learn more about wildland fire risk reduction

Preparations are underway for the next “Learn with the League” program, featuring Logan Lasley, a wildland risk reduction educator, and Warren Jones, the interim fire chief of the Estes Valley Fire Protection District.

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Estes Park, the program at 10 a.m. on Jan. 21 will give the public the opportunity to learn more about the fire district’s approach to wildland fire risk reduction and meet the new interim fire chief. Learn with the League programs are held at the American Legion, 850 N St. Vrain Ave.