CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Salida, Colorado

PRESS RELEASE

May 29, 2019

On June 1, 2019 Undersheriff Joe McGuire will retire from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office.

Joe is a Colorado native having grown up in both Leadville and Salida where he graduated from Salida High School.

Joe began his law enforcement career in 1969 with the Thornton Police Department.

 When the City of Federal Heights incorporated in 1972 Joe started working for them and rose through the ranks and eventually attained the rank of Lieutenant where he was second in command. Joe worked for Federal Heights until 1989 when he and his family decided they wanted to move to the mountains.

Joe was hired by the Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office where he served as second in command of that agency as the undersheriff. Joe worked for Clear Creek County until 2001 when the opportunity opened up to move his family back to Chaffee County.

The McGuire family relocated to Nathrop and Joe began his career with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office. Joe has worked in patrol as a deputy, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and patrol commander. In 2016 Sheriff John Spezze promoted Joe to undersheriff where he has remained in that capacity.

Joe has been a tremendous asset to both the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and Chaffee County government as well. Joe was promoted to undersheriff at a time where his leadership ability was needed and he has done an amazing job. Joe has been around the block a time or two but he never forgot his roots and his humility which is his greatest asset. Joe has the ability as a leader to get the most out of his subordinates because he is such a good leader.

Joe McGuire has been a tremendous asset to not only the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office but all of the citizens of Chaffee County. I will always be grateful to Joe for all his hard work and his sense of humor. It has been a pleasure to have Joe aboard and he will be missed.

With Joe moving on Patrol Commander Andy Rohrich will be promoted to undersheriff. Andy grew up in Salida and began his career with the Salida Police Department as the animal control officer.

Andy started with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office in 2002 and has worked in patrol as a deputy and as the agencies investigator. Andy was promoted to detective sergeant and then patrol commander.

Sergeant Anthony Avila will be promoted to patrol commander at the same time. Anthony began his career with Chaffee County in 1996 and worked as a deputy until he was promoted to sergeant in 2007. Anthony remained in that position where he currently serves. Anthony brings so much experience to this position which is so important because the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office is a young agency.

For more information please contact Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze at 719-207-3199.