The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
14 to 18 months out and looking for cost sharing
By Katherine Nettles
Gunnison County commissioners gave an informal nod of support last month to add an armored BearCat vehicle to the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Department’s quiver of protective equipment in the future. But the vehicle, intended to provide protection to both the public and law enforcement under high-stakes situations with armed suspects, will take an estimated 14 to 18 months to build and deliver so it will likely be purchased in 2027.
Sheriff Adam Murdie first came to commissioners with the request earlier this fall, and as work sessions around the 2026 budget commenced with different departments last month, the BearCat topic re-emerged. The estimated cost is $392,000.
“It’s an expenditure decision, but it is not a cost that is going to be required in 2026,” said county manager Matthew Birnie. The sheriff said he has a verbal commitment from the city of Gunnison to contribute $100,000, and commissioners discussed whether others in the region might also help to fund it.
“It’s a regional resource,” noted Birnie. Surrounding counties may be interested in borrowing it at times, Murdie confirmed, but it would be hard to predict how often and he said he would readily lend it to them should a high-risk situation occur with enough proximity and time to get it to them.
Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels said she has asked around and estimated other counties and cities use their BearCat vehicles three to four times per year. Murdie predicted using it two to three times per year, “but hopefully never.”
“When I took this job one of my main goals was to bring this sheriff’s office into the 21st century, because it was way behind…this is one of the final steps to get us there,” said Murdie. He said he sees the BearCat as an amenity similar to a new compactor for the landfill, in terms of technology improvements to make certain conditions safer for his deputies and for the citizens they are sworn to protect.
Commissioner Liz Smith agreed that she supported the purchase not in the spirit of increased militarization, but in terms of new technology and public safety. “I wanted to emphasize that because I feel like people can run off into some different directions than you might intend.”
Commissioner Jonathan Houck said he too was supportive. Addressing sheriff Murdie and undersheriff Josh Ashe, he said, “The leadership you both have brought, you have shown the community the way you are policing, the style that you’re doing it and these are resources that you need. So I am not struggling with the ask.” He requested that they explore possible financing and other potential cost sharing. The discussion also turned to savings realized in 2025 due to unfilled deputy positions.
Puckett Daniels said she wanted a formal agreement with the city of Gunnison and asked if they had approached Crested Butte or Mt. Crested Butte.
“We have,” said Murdie. “Crested Butte is a definite hard no.”
Puckett Daniels asked if Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte all participate in the same special response team that would use it. He said yes. “I would take their money if they would give it. I just don’t know that they are in the same spirit of support,” answered Murdie.
Smith said this, like other services, can save a life or lives in the community and that should be considered by all. Puckett Daniels suggested they might consider branding it and bringing it to community events to help with the perception issue. “If you can give people more proximity to it, more contact, have conversations I think that may help bring the temperature down on it for some folks and maybe garner support from some people who are currently not supportive.”
Murdie said he has had several conversations with people recently who have followed the discussion and only one person expressed disagreement; he said the conversation had ended with the person’s support.
There will be a formal motion and vote to approve the BearCat at an upcoming meeting, and the cost will likely be in next year’s 2027 budget.
