Please use this helpful list of frequently asked questions and their answers. If we may be of assistance, please visit the Contact Us page for our contact information.  It is our pleasure to serve the people and community of Park County.

Click the categories below for specific subject areas

Civil
Dispatch
Detention
Patrol
Administrative Services
Miscellaneous

CIVIL SERVICES - About the Park County Sheriff's Office
 

Pursuant to Wyoming State Statute, 18-3-608 the Park County Sheriff's Office charges a fee of $50.00 for all civil services. This covers the first three attempts and then it's $10.00 for each additional attempt requested.

Contact the Sheriff's Office Administrative assistant for more information regarding civil process procedures.

How can I work for Park County Sheriff's Department?

• Go to our Careers page to download the application and related documents that the Park County Sheriff's Office has, as well as instructions on how to apply. Please submit them by U.S. Mail with a copy of your resume or you can drop them off at the Sheriff's Office. We accept applications on a continual basis.

What's the difference between a sheriff's office and a police department?

• The main difference is the area of jurisdiction. A sheriff's office provides law enforcement services and/or jail services for a county or other civil subdivision of a state. A police department serves a specific municipality, city, town or village.

Where can I get fingerprinted?

Sometimes your job or participation in a group or activity requires that you be fingerprinted. Contact the Park County Sheriff's Office Detention Center for fingerprints at 527-8750 prior to coming down. The Detention Staff will take your prints on weekdays  between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. but are unable to from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM due to serving meals. Sometimes the Detention staff if very busy with inmates and are unable to provide printing services which is why it's a good idea to call in advance. Make sure that when you come to get your prints that you do the following steps;

1. Bring a Photo ID
2. Bring $5.00 cash
3. Bring your fingerprint cards

Come into the main entrance of the Sheriff's Office and turn left into the Detention Center Lobby. Use the phone provided to contact the detention center.

How can I commend a Park County Sheriff's Office employee for outstanding service?

• If you received excellent service from a Park County Sheriff's Office employee, or witnessed something that deserves special recognition, we encourage you to tell us so we may share this with the employee and our staff. Your appreciation and encouragement are very important to us. Please email the Sheriff.


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DISPATCH - Reporting Crimes

Where can I get assistance if I’ve been a witness to or a victim of a crime?

Please call the Park County Sheriff's Office and speak with our staff. We have several resources available for both victims of a crime and witnesses of a crime.

How can I be a good witness?

• If you are a crime victim or if you witness a crime, your observations can lead to a faster resolution of the case.

• When you report a crime, the Park County Sheriff's Office will ask you to describe the suspect(s) you observed. NEVER place your personal safety or the safety of those around you in jeopardy to get a better description of a subject, but if possible, make a mental picture of the suspect(s) by scanning the individual(s) from top to bottom, and outside to inside.

• Note the most obvious information first: race, sex, approximate age, weight and height. Then note hair and eye color, complexion and any distinguishing features such as glasses, scars, facial hair, etc.

• Notice what the person is wearing, starting with the outside layer of clothing. Many times a suspect may remove outerwear to elude law enforcement officers.

• If you're describing a vehicle, remember the acronym CYMBALS:
• C - color
• Y - year
• M - make
• B - body
• A - additional descriptive features
• L - license
• S - state

How do I report a break-in in progress?

• During a break-in, the safety of you and your loved ones should be your primary concern, not the protection of your property. No possession is worth risking a human life.

• If someone is breaking into your home, you and those in the house should leave immediately. Choose an exit, a window or door, that is safely away from the intruder. Go to a neighbor's home and dial 9-1-1.

• If you cannot escape, quickly move everyone into one room that has a phone and lock and barricade the door. Immediately call 9-1-1 and be prepared to give the operator your address and other details including the color of your house, location of any fencing, status of outdoor lights and other information that may be required. The operator will remain on the phone with you as deputies respond and will continue to ask questions and provide information.

• The use of weapons to protect yourself is a dangerous option. In a face-to-face confrontation, your weapon may be taken from you and used against you. Weapons have also been used against law enforcement officers or family members that were mistaken for intruders. The use of any weapon or deadly force is a last resort, even for highly trained deputies.

• How can I report crime tips?

• If you have information about a crime, witnessed a crime, or have overheard someone discussing participation in a crime, don't be afraid to report it. The community support is very important in solving crimes in our County. Please click here to go to our online crime tip submission form or call our office at (307) 527-8700.

911 Tips for callers


IS A PERSON HURT OR IN DANGER? DO YOU NEED THE POLICE, FIRE OR AMBULANCE? Have you ever wondered whether to call 9-1-1? Since 9-1-1 is for emergencies only, it helps to understand when to call and when not to call. An emergency is any serious situation where a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or emergency medical help is needed right away. If you are unsure of whether your situation is an emergency, go ahead and call 9-1-1. The 9-1-1 call taker can determine if you need emergency assistance and can route you to the correct location.

WHEN CALLING 9-1-1 DO YOUR BEST TO STAY CALM AND ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. Staying calm can be one of the most difficult, yet most important, things you do when calling 9-1-1. It is very important that you stay as calm as possible and answer all the questions the 9-1-1 call taker asks. The questions 9-1-1 call takers ask, no matter how relevant they seem, are important in helping get the first responders to you as fast as possible.

IF YOU DO CALL 9-1-1, EVEN BY MISTAKE, DO NOT HANG UP THE PHONE. 9-1-1 call takers are trained to get the most important information as quickly as possible to get help on the way to an emergency situation. In an emergency situation, allow the call taker to ask you all the questions they need in order to get help there in the timeliest manner before you hang up or leave the phone. If you happen to call by accident, stay on the line until you can tell the call taker that you called by accident and there is no emergency. This saves the call taker from having to call you back and confirm there is no emergency or sending police with lights and sirens to check your address for an emergency.

HELP THE 9-1-1 CALL TAKER HELP YOU. Listen and answer the questions asked. By doing this, it helps the call taker understand your situation and will assist you with your emergency until the appropriate police, fire or medical units arrive.

KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE EMERGENCY. The wireless 9-1-1 caller must be aware that the 9-1-1 center that answers the call may not be the 9-1-1 center that services the area that the wireless caller is calling from. Look for landmarks, cross street signs and buildings. Know the name of the city or county you are in. Knowing the location is vital to getting the appropriate police, fire or EMS units to respond. Providing an accurate address is critically important when making a wireless 9-1-1 call.

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN HOW TO CALL 9-1-1. Be sure they know what 9-1-1 is, how to dial from your home and cell phone, and to trust the 9-1-1 call taker. Make sure your child is physically able to reach at least one phone in your home. When calling 9-1-1 your child needs to know their name, parent’s name, telephone number, and most importantly their address. Tell them to answer all the call takers questions and to stay on the phone until instructed to hang up.

PRANK CALLS TO 9-1-1 WASTE TIME AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ILLEGAL IN MOST STATES. Be sure all members of your household are aware that prank or harassing calls to 9-1-1 will be dealt with by local law enforcement agencies.

POST YOUR ADDRESS CLEARLY AND PROMINENTLY AT YOUR ENTRANCE AND ON YOUR HOME. Posting your 9-1-1 address at the driveway entrance and on your home will alleviate any confusion as to whether emergency responders have the correct location. Try using something reflective or illuminated so that it can be seen in the evening as well as during the day. DO NOT ASSUME SINCE YOUR MAILBOX IS MARKED YOU HAVE POSTED YOUR ADDRESS- mailboxes are not always at the entrance of a driveway and usually are not marked clearly on both sides. Most cities and counties have ordinances for posting 9-1-1 addresses- check with your local ones. And always report missing street signs when noted- these not only help others find your home but are essential to emergency response personnel. Contact the Park County Sheriff's Office dispatch center if you need to report a missing/damaged street sign.

KNOW THE PHONES YOU OWN. Educate everyone about the phone system in your home as well as your cell phone. Children may need to use the devices in an emergency and will need to know how to operate them.

DO NOT LET CHILDREN PLAY WITH OLD CELL PHONES. Even an old cell phone that still has a battery is capable of dialing 911 even if you don’t have a current contract for your old phone. Trying to track down the calls that come from children playing with a phone is a waste of resources, and could prevent someone with a legitimate emergency from getting through to the 9-1-1 operator. Removing the battery can provide the best way to ensure it can't make a call either on purpose or by accident.

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DETENTION - Arrest and Jail Information

How do I send money to an inmate in a Park County detention center?

• Inmates are permitted to receive funds for deposit to their commissary accounts. Money orders and cashier's checks may be mailed to inmates (for instructions, see "Detention"
• Cash deposits to inmate accounts ARE NOT accepted by mail.

How do I visit someone in jail?

• Inmates in Park County jails may receive visitors on Saturdays and Sundays only from 10:00 until 11:30 A.M. and then from 1:00 P.M. until 5:30 P.M. Visits are for a period of 30 minutes.

All inmate appointments are to be made at least 24 hours in advance by calling the detention center.

Visitors need to arrive a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time or they will not be permitted to attend the visit. A photo I.D. is required at time of visit.

Visitors may not give anything to -- or take anything from -- an inmate.
• For more details on visiting jail inmates, go to: Detention

What's the difference between jail and prison?

• Think short-term and long-term.

• Jails are most often run by sheriffs and/or local governments and are designed to hold individuals awaiting trial or a serving sentences up to one year in length.

• Prisons are operated by state governments and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and are designed to hold individuals convicted of crimes.

• Jails operate work release programs and other specialized services. They try to address educational needs, substance abuse needs, and vocational needs while managing inmate behavior. Inmate idleness contributes to management problems.

• State prison systems operate halfway houses, boot camps, work release centers and community restitution centers - all considered medium or minimum custody. Inmates assigned to such facilities are usually reaching the end of their sentences.

How do I bail or bond someone out of jail?

A person who has been arrested and charged with a crime may be required to post bail (a bond) before being released from jail. A bond is insurance to guarantee an arrestee will appear in court for trial. If that person fails to appear for a court date, the bond money is forfeited. A bond may be posted in cash, by an arrestee or by someone on his/her behalf.

Most crimes are bondable offenses, except capital crimes (those crimes for which the death penalty may be asked). The decision to grant bond or the amount of a bond is determined by a judge.To post a bond,Please call (307) 527-8750.

There are two ways to post a bond:

Cash Bond: the total amount of the bond, in cash, is placed with the county to guarantee the arrestee will appear at the next court hearing. If the arrestee does not appear after posting a cash bond, the money will be forfeited. If a not guilty verdict is rendered or the case is dismissed, or at the conclusion of the trial proceedings, bond money will be refunded minus any fines and / or court costs.

Cash, cashier's checks or money orders are the only accepted methods of payment for bail. When posting bail, cashier's checks and money orders must be made payable to the Sheriff of Park County. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.

Refunds for cash bonds can be made by contacting the court in which the bond was posted.

Surety bond: A bonding company posts a bond that guarantees an arrestee will appear at the next court date. The bonding company normally charges a fee for each bond posted. Consult your local Yellow Pages for lists of bonding companies.


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PATROL

Where do the deputies patrol?

The Park County Sheriff's Office patrol division provides rotating patrols in Park County on a varied and staggered rotation that ensures we have deputies covering the entire county. By providing enforcement of Wyoming State Statutes in the unincorporated parts of the county, they strive to maintain a visible presence in all areas. We also assist the United States Forest Service in providing patrols to the National Forest Lands in our county.

If you would like more information regarding patrol practices, you can contact the Patrol Lt. Dave Patterson HERE. If you feel you need to make a report or speak to a Deputy,  please contact dispatch to file a request with them. They will take your information and dispatch the next available deputy to assist you.

What kind of work do the deputies do?

Please see the News page of this web site for a link to the monthly patrol statistics showing what has happened for the previous month.

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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES: Tickets, Reports and Permits

How do I obtain a copy of an arrest record, a background check, an event report or a call for service report?
• Contact the Park County Sheriff Administrative Assistant for more information. Some information requests cannot be honored due to state statute.
 
• How do I get a protection order?

• Protection orders are issued by a judge and are intended to protect those who fear for their own safety. Essentially, a protection order prohibits an individual from an action that is likely to cause harm; usually, a protection order prevents any contact or communication between two or more people.

Contact Crisis Intervention for further information. Their web site is on our Community Links tab found on our home page.


What do I do if I get a ticket?

All Citations issued by the Park County Sheriff's Office are payable at Circuit Court either in Cody at the Courthouse, or in Powell at the Annex.

How do I get a permit for a concealed handgun?

Concealed weapons permits are handled through the Sheriff's Executive Assistant. Applications for initial permits and renewals can be picked up at the Sheriff's window located in our main lobby.


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Miscellaneous FAQ's

What is a charge?

• A charge is an accusation that a crime has been committed and is the starting point for the criminal justice system. Being charged does not necessarily indicate guilt; only a court can make that decision.
• Charges may be brought through an:
• Arrest at a crime scene or following/during the investigation of a crime
• Arrest based on a warrant issued by a judge in response to a sworn complaint
• Arrest based on an indictment by a grand jury

What is the difference between a criminal case and a civil case?

• Civil cases are generally brought by private individuals or corporations seeking to collect money owed or monetary damages. A criminal case is brought by the local, state or federal government in response to a suspected violation of law and seeks a fine, a jail sentence or both.

What Computer Software does your agency use?

The Park County Sheriff's Office uses the software suite from Sun Ridge Systems called RIMS. This allows us to link our databases with the Cody Police Department and Powell Police Department providing all agencies instant access to the information necessary to serve the public in the most fiscally responsible manner by pooling resources and preventing unnecessary and costly duplication of information.

CLICK HERE to go to their web site and read about our department on their web page.


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