2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 30 - Government - County
County Officers
Article 10 - County Officers
Part 5 - Sheriff
§ 30-10-501.5. Qualifications

(1) No person shall be eligible for nomination, election, or appointment to the office of sheriff unless such person:

(a) Is a citizen of the United States, is a citizen of the state of Colorado, and is a resident of the county to which the person is to be appointed or elected;

(b) Possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent or a college degree;

(c) Has had a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency and submitted a receipt evidencing such fingerprinting at the time of filing his or her written acceptance pursuant to section 1-4-601 (3), 1-4-906, or 1-4-1002 (5), C.R.S., or a candidate filing an affidavit of intent pursuant to section 1-4-1101, C.R.S. Such law enforcement agency shall forward the fingerprints to the Colorado bureau of investigation. The bureau shall utilize such fingerprints, its files and records, and those of the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of determining whether the person has ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge under federal or state laws. The Colorado bureau of investigation shall notify the county clerk and recorder of the county wherein the person is a candidate of the results of the fingerprint analysis. In the event that a conviction or plea is disclosed, such person shall be deemed unqualified for the office of sheriff, unless pardoned. The results of such fingerprint analysis shall be confidential; except that the county clerk and recorder may divulge whether such person is qualified or unqualified for the office of sheriff.