Colorado Mounted Rangers (CMR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and former statutory state law enforcement

auxiliary Auxiliary may refer to: In language * Auxiliary language (disambiguation) * Auxiliary verb In military and law enforcement * Auxiliary police * Auxiliaries, civilians or quasi-military personnel who provide support of some kind to a military se ...

in the US State of Colorado. The organization served as the legal entity for the Colorado Rangers from February 1941 until In July 2018, when the Colorado Mounted Rangers ceased their operational law enforcement activities, transitioning the Colorado Rangers to a newly formed government agency named Colorado Rangers Law Enforcement Shared Reserve. All references to the Colorado Mounted Rangers were removed from Colorado Law (Colorado Revised Statutes) on March 26, 2025 in HB25-1181. Colorado Mounted Rangers provided more than 50,000 annually as volunteer hours to law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Colorado by providing additional peace officer resources in times of need. The Statutory Auxiliary was not funded by tax dollars and the Colorado Mounted Rangers served without pay. The Colorado Rangers are the oldest statewide

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...

organization in

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

, originally organized in 1861 by the

Colorado Territory The Territory of Colorado was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 28, 1861, until August 1, 1876, when it was admitted to the Union as the 38th State of Colorado. The territory was organized ...

Early history of the Colorado Rangers 1861-1941

The Rangers trace their roots to the Jefferson Rangers, keeping the peace in the unofficial

Jefferson Territory The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed in the Pike's Peak mining region from October 24, 1859, until it yielded to the new Territory of Colorado on Jun ...

during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. When the

was established in 1861, they were reorganized as the Colorado Rangers, continuing to serve as Colorado's only statewide

law enforcement agency A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for law enforcement within a specific jurisdiction through the employment and deployment of law enforcement officers and their resources. The most common type of law enforcement ...

through the 1920s. The Colorado Rangers were fashioned after the well known Texas Rangers and served as both law enforcement and state militia. The Colorado Rangers often fought on horseback with repeating revolvers and were instrumental in the

Battle of Glorieta Pass The Battle of Glorieta Pass was fought March 26–28, 1862, in the northern New Mexico Territory, by Union Army, Union and Confederate States Army, Confederate forces during the American Civil War. While not the largest battle of the New Mexic ...

, helping to stop the

Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

advance towards the Colorado gold fields. This battle has become known as the " Gettysburg of the West" for its importance to the Union victory. After the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, the Colorado Rangers returned to their law enforcement duties. From time to time the Rangers were also called upon by Colorado's governors to keep the peace during times of

civil unrest Civil disorder, also known as civil disturbance, civil unrest, civil strife, or turmoil, are situations when law enforcement and security forces struggle to maintain public order or tranquility. Causes Any number of things may cause civil di ...

natural disaster A natural disaster is the very harmful impact on a society or community brought by natural phenomenon or Hazard#Natural hazard, hazard. Some examples of natural hazards include avalanches, droughts, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, landslides ...

s, and during disputes such as the violent Labor Wars in Colorado's

mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...

towns. The Rangers were also present at the

Columbine Mine massacre The Columbine Mine massacre occurred in 1927, in the town of Serene, Colorado. In the midst of the 1927–1928 Colorado Coal Strike across the state, workers had been picketing one of the few remaining operating mines, in Serene. A fight br ...

in 1927. The Rangers were accused of firing machine guns into the crowds of miners during the shooting, which was disputed by the Rangers. Rangers were also utilized by Denver District Attorney Philip Van Cise to break up

organized crime Organized crime is a category of transnational organized crime, transnational, national, or local group of centralized enterprises run to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for profit. While organized crime is generally thought of as a f ...

and

corruption Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted in a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's gain. Corruption may involve activities ...

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

's City Hall in the early 1920s. In 1922 Van Cise set up an independent investigation of the Blonger gang, secretly funded by a group of wealthy Denver citizens. On August 24 of that year, Van Cise used a special force of Colorado Rangers to capture 33 suspects in a single day. Fearing that the

Police would tip off the gang once the first suspect was taken to jail, Van Cise detained the gang members in the basement of the First Universalist Church, where he was a member, until the sweep was complete. In Colorado's longest and most expensive trial to that time, 20

con men A scam, or a confidence trick, is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust. Confidence tricks exploit victims using a combination of the victim's credulity, naivety, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibili ...

, including

Lou Blonger Lou Blonger (May 13, 1849 – April 20, 1924), born Louis Herbert Belonger, was a Wild West saloonkeeper, gambling-house owner, and mine speculator, but is best known as the kingpin of an extensive ring of confidence tricksters that operated ...

, was convicted and sent to prison, effectively busting the "Million-Dollar Bunco Ring." As a result of a campaign promise to

organized labor The labour movement is the collective organisation of working people to further their shared political and economic interests. It consists of the trade union or labour union movement, as well as political parties of labour. It can be considere ...

and other interests, Governor William E. Sweet signed an

executive order In the United States, an executive order is a directive by the president of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. The legal or constitutional basis for executive orders has multiple sources. Article Two of the ...

on January 29, 1923, cutting off funding to the Rangers. The Colorado Rangers were officially disbanded by the Colorado General Assembly on April 1, 1927. This left Colorado without statewide police protection until 1935 when the Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol (later becoming the

Colorado State Patrol The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) (originally known as the Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol), based in Lakewood, Colorado, is a division of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, and is one of the official state police agencies of Colorado ...

) was formed. The Colorado State Patrol was formed to enforce traffic laws on state highways, not as a criminal law enforcement agency.

Colorado Rangers function as the Colorado Mounted Rangers 1941-2018

1941 reorganization as Colorado Mounted Rangers

Governor Teller Ammons re-organized the

Colorado Rangers The Colorado Rangers Law Enforcement Shared Reserve (CLER), known publicly as the Colorado Rangers, is a statewide police agency in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is a statewide law enforcement reserve of sworn Peace Officer Standards and Traini ...

as the Colorado Mounted Rangers. The organization was created as a volunteer law enforcement auxiliary . On February 21, 1941, they were formally incorporated with a single Troop of 50 Rangers headquartered in Bailey.

1955 reorganization

In 1955 with a growing role in

civil defense Civil defense or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from human-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency management: Risk management, prevention, mitigation, prepara ...

and under the guidance of Teller County Sheriff Rufus Jones, the Colorado Mounted Rangers expanded the organization forming a squadron of Troops located throughout the state. Troops partnered with local Law Enforcement agencies in their area to provide them with additional peace officers when needed. Rangers_provide_local_Law_Enforcement_agencies_with_additional_Peace_Officers

Rangers_provide_local_Law_Enforcement_agencies_with_additional_Peace_Officers

2017 reorganization and the transition of Colorado Rangers back into official government service

In 2017, pursuant recommendations by a special task force created by law to study the authority of Colorado Mounted Rangers, a new government entity was formed to expand role of Colorado Rangers as a governmental law enforcement agency. The Colorado Mounted Rangers ceased their operational law enforcement auxiliary functions on July 15, 2018. The Colorado Mounted Rangers continue to exist as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that supports the Colorado Rangers with foundational level fundraising. (See:

)

Law Enforcement Auxiliary per C.R.S § 24-33.5-822

Rangers working alongside local Police Department

In 2012, thanks to a non-partisan effort by the Colorado General Assembly, Governor

John Hickenlooper John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. ( ; born February 7, 1952) is an American politician, geologist, and businessman serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, junior United States Senate, United States senator from Colorado since 2021. A mem ...

signed Senate Bill 12-07
(Link)
into law, formally recognizing the Ranger's role as a Law Enforcement Auxiliary in the Colorado State Statutes. "Therefore, the general assembly declares that the Colorado Mounted Rangers should be established as an all-volunteer, unpaid auxiliary unit for the purpose of lending assistance to...law enforcement agencies in the state." Section 24-32-2222 in Senate Bill 12-072 was then harmonized with House Bill 12-1283 and relocated to section 24-33.5-822 placing the Rangers under the Department of Public Safety in 24-33.5 C.R.S. While the Rangers had been operating under formal memoranda of understanding (MOU's) with agencies across the State, this legislation formalized the Colorado Mounted Rangers' role as the State Law Enforcement Auxiliary and clarified it in the Colorado Revised Statutes. At their peak, the Colorado Mounted Rangers had a memorandum of understanding with the

Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Colorado is a state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, ...

and partnered with dozens of law enforcement and other government agencies including State, County and local agencies.

Supported agencies

The Colorado Mounted Rangers had an operational Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each of the following Law Enforcement, OEM, Fire Agencies and Government entities: STATE AGENCIES:
- Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management - Auraria Police (University of Colorado at Denver / Metropolitan State University of Denver / Community College of Denver) - Community College of Aurora SHERIFFS OFFICES:
- Adams County SO
- Archuleta County SO
- Crowley County SO
- Douglas County SO
- Eagle County SO
- Fremont County SO
- Gilpin County SO
- Kiowa County SO
- La Plata County SO POLICE DEPARTMENTS:
Ranger accident scene

- Aguilar Marshal
- Ault PD
- Commerce City PD
- Dacono PD
- Dillon PD
- Durango PD
- Elizabeth PD
- Empire PD
- Evans PD
- Fairplay PD
- Firestone PD
- Florence PD
- Fort Lupton PD
- Fowler PD
- Frederick PD
- Fountain PD
- Georgetown PD
- Glendale PD
- Greeley PD
- Haxtun PD
- Idaho Springs PD
- Johnstown PD
- Kiowa PD
- LaSalle PD
- Manitou Springs PD
- Milliken PD
- Nederland PD
- Oak Creek PD
- Rocky Ford PD
- Salida PD
- Vail PD
- Windsor PD
- Woodland Park PD COUNTY GOVERNMENTS: - Adams County OEM
- Teller County TOWN / CITY GOVERNMENTS:
- Bayfield
- Dillon
- Elizabeth
- Green Mountain Falls
- Monument
- Ordway
- Palmer Lake
- Ramah FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS: - Canon City Area FPD Rangers regularly provided additional personnel to these agencies when requested and acted as peace officers under their memorandum of understanding agreements. Rangers acting under the MOU were under the direction and supervision of the Law Enforcement Agency they were supporting.

Recognition

In 1999, fallen Ranger Edward P. Bell's name was enshrined on the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial which is located on the grounds of the Colorado State Patrol Academy in Golden, Colorado. Ranger Bell is the only Ranger in the over 150-year history of the Rangers to have been killed in the line of duty. In 2001, the Colorado General Assembly's

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

passed House Resolution 01-1009 to recognize and honor the Colorado Mounted Rangers service to the Citizens of Colorado since the days of the Colorado Territory. In 2002, the

Colorado State Senate The Colorado State Senate is the upper house of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Colorado. It is composed of 35 members elected from single-member districts, with each district having a population of about ...

passed Senate Resolution 02-008 that recognized the long-standing tradition of honorable service that the Colorado Mounted Rangers have provided since 1861. In 2004, Governor Bill Owens declared Feb. 21, 2004, "Colorado Mounted Ranger Day" honoring Rangers continuing contributions. Governor Owens also acknowledged the Rangers one time role as the "Governor's Guard". In 2011, fallen Ranger Edward P. Bell's name was enshrined at the

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is in Washington, D.C., at Judiciary Square, adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Museum. It honors 23,785 U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty throughout American hi ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

during

National Police Week Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. It is celebrated May 15 of each ye ...

. Rangers made the journey to Washington D.C. to participate in the ceremonies honoring fallen officers from across the United States. In 2011, United States Senator

Michael Bennet Michael Farrand Bennet (born November 28, 1964) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Colorado, a seat he has held sinc ...

recognized the Rangers 150 years of service to the citizens of Colorado. Senator Bennett thanked the Rangers for answering the call to public service.

References

*Van Cise, Philip S. ''Fighting the Underworld.'' (Cambridge, Mass.: The Riverside Press, 1936) *McClure, Carleton E. ''History of the Colorado Mounted Rangers.'' (Minute Man Press, 1982)