Things were a lot different for Sgt. Steve McIntosh when he started with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office 27 years ago.
Inspired by his father’s 30-year law enforcement career, Steve started out working for ACSO as a booking clerk in 1990, then moved over to dispatch. At the time, ACSO’s offices were in Littleton and much smaller. As the population in the county has grown, so too has ACSO and its buildings. Steve remembers when Broncos Parkway--where ACSO headquarters sits currently--was a dirt road. He says the roads then were narrower and there were far fewer houses as you drive east.
Steve got to be pretty familiar with the county. After graduating from the POST academy in 1998 (of which he proudly tied for first out of all the cadets), he started working in the detention facility, and soon after moved to patrol. Steve remembers handling many more cattle calls back then, using an air horn to encourage them to moo-ve out of the way (sorry, we had to).
Steve worked in a variety of areas within ACSO, but was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and eventually settled in the Traffic Safety Unit, leading a team of 10 deputies. This unit strives to promote vehicle safety out on the roads and reduce crashes. Steve hopes that he’s been able to leave a mark on the people he’s worked with, helping further their careers and making them better officers. He says it’s important to learn from your mistakes and always work to be better at your job, no matter what it is.
Developments in technology have also aided law enforcement officers, helping them to save the lives of their citizens. Steve says the availability of AEDs and Narcan allows law enforcement officers nowadays to quickly assist those in need of medical help. Steve says bulletproof vests have also come a long way during his career. Now, vests are thinner and lighter, making a 10-hour shift in the vest and uniform much more comfortable.
After 27 years of service, Steve says he’ll miss making a difference in the lives of Arapahoe County’s citizens. He remembers years ago receiving a letter from a woman he helped save from a near-fatal overdose. In her letter, she thanked him and said she would one day tell her children about what happened and how lucky she was Steve found her. Steve says during a law enforcement career “you do a lot of things that you feel like are a part of your normal duty, but you don’t expect to be remembered like that.” To this day he still has that letter.
In retirement, Steve says he’s looking forward to spending time with his family. He says they’ve sacrificed a lot for him over his 27-years with ACSO and he can’t wait to enjoy more time with them.
Happy Retirement, Steve!