Friday, AUGUST 15, 2025 |
Photo – Medicine Bow Town Council – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Citing dissatisfaction with the service and limited funding, the governing body of Medicine Bow voted not to renew the town’s contract with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.
After dissolving its marshal’s department last year, the Town of Medicine Bow signed a memorandum of understanding with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, agreeing to 30 hours of monthly patrol coverage and a payment of $55,000. In return, the Sheriff’s Office received three rifles and three patrol vehicles from the defunct marshal’s department.
During the August 11th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Mayor Justin George announced that Sheriff Alex Bakken has asked if the town would like to renew its memorandum of understanding.
Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said she was unhappy with the coverage the sheriff is providing to the town. As the owner of the Old West, situated on Highway 30, Councilwoman Wickizer said she has a clear view of sheriff’s deputies facing away from the road, as vehicles pass through town without slowing down.
Several attendees at the meeting corroborated Councilwoman Wickizer’s comments regarding the alleged inattentiveness of the sheriff’s deputies. The Councilwoman said Medicine Bow is not paying the Sheriff’s Department to have deputies park off the highway and look away from the town.
As part of the agreement, Sheriff Bakken provided the town with a report detailing the number of hours his deputies spend patrolling Medicine Bow. Mayor George said in the month of June, deputies logged 37 hours in town.
Mayor George is the owner of JB’s Stop-N-Shop, located next door to the Old West. Councilwoman Wickizer said JB’s security cameras should capture the deputies parked on the south side of town. Mayor George confirmed that he has witnessed the deputies facing away from the road.
Regardless of his opinion on the deputies’ performance, Mayor George said Medicine Bow cannot afford to pay the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to patrol the town. Additionally, the Mayor said the Sheriff is legally required to provide law enforcement throughout the county, regardless of compensation.
Mayor George added that Wyoming Highway Patrol will begin patrolling Medicine Bow more frequently after hiring two new local troopers.
The Mayor said he would prefer to deny the contract renewal due to a lack of funding. Councilwoman Wickizer agreed not to sign a new agreement, but argued that the town should end the agreement based on the deputies’ apparent ineffectiveness.
The Medicine Bow Town Council unanimously voted not to extend the memorandum of understanding with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, though a new agreement may be established at any time in the future.
