Boulder County – Area law enforcement agencies plan to spend today searching for 27 of their most wanted fugitives.
The overwhelming majority of the group are sex offenders.
Officials with Boulder County Crime Stoppers, the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office said the apprehension program depends heavily on community input.
“Hopefully, people are paying attention,” said Larry Wieda, the executive director of the county’s Crime Stoppers. “A lot of people don’t realize who is living in their community.”
Crime Stoppers is offering rewards up to $1,000 for information that helps authorities catch one of the fugitives.
Boulder District Attorney’s Office investigator Jim Kolar said the program is similar to those run with success in Denver. He said the hope is that neighbors of the fugitives will recognize the names.
And Wieda said such programs have seen local success in the past.
“We did it several years ago,” Wieda said. “I think we got seven out of the 10 we were looking for.”
Most of the people on the list did not appear for court dates, violated parole or did not register as sex offenders when they were ordered to.
Law enforcement agencies are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 303-440-7867 or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 720-929-0893 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.