Police Department Facility Update 

As sales tax numbers flatten in Silverthorne, the 2025 budget has been amended to adjust the pace of projects in Town. The town has paused several capital projects, including the new Silverthorne Police Department facility.

In 2023, Silverthorne purchased the Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) building to preserve the opportunity to use that space for future community needs and to help support FIRC’s goal of building the new Sol Center in Breckenridge. As the FIRC prepares to move into its new office space, the Town is evaluating the feasibility of using the former FIRC building in Silverthorne as an interim police facility until a new facility can be completed at the formerly selected Cottonwood location.

To retrofit the FIRC office as a secure police facility, the town will use funds already allocated in the budget for the planning and design of a new police facility to cover the cost. With FIRC planning on moving into the Sol Center later in 2025, the Silverthorne Police Department would be able to use the former FIRC space at the start of 2026.

The Town recognizes the importance of the police department facility project and providing a purpose-built facility for its officers and the community, and will continue to evaluate budget and timing to move the project forward in the future. Additionally, Silverthorne will explore future opportunities to partner with FIRC on ways to have a physical location to serve patrons on this side of Summit County.

A New Silverthorne Police Facility: A Vision for Safety and Community Service

The Town of Silverthorne is in the planning process of building a purpose-built police facility to accommodate the department’s current needs and future growth. The $15 million project is being funded by the Town’s 8% lodging tax and was first formally identified as a need in the 2017 Police Department Strategic Plan and again in the 2022 Silverthorne Facility Master Plan.

The Silverthorne Police Department started working in Silverthorne Town Hall in 1986 when the department served 1,700 residents and had nine employees. Today, the department serves more than 5,000 residents and has 27 positions, three times the original department size. With the growth in the department's size and the scale of service that Silverthorne Police Department offers, there is no longer room for the police to meet the needs of the community while working out of Silverthorne Town Hall.  

A dedicated police facility will feature the security and amenities our officers and community deserve, helping to increase officer well-being and employee retention while providing a welcoming space for community members.

Site Selection

Town staff have worked with an architectural firm to evaluate 19 potential sites for the new police department facility using seven categories of 33 criteria important to the Police Department’s mission and the Town’s goals. The categories include access to and from the site, site features, zoning/planning, security measures, schedule/budget/economic impact, police vision/recruitment /retention/wellness, and sustainability. 

The top three sites were presented to the Silverthorne Town Council, Police Advisory Committe, and to the public at a community open house. All feedback unanimously supported the Cottonwood South Site.  

Cottownwood South 

• Potentially three access points 
• Room to expand and/or collaborate with Summit County Sherriff
• Protection of elementary school 
• Most similar land use of adjacent lots 
• Impact to informal use of school amenities/field use on Town owned land
• Cost to extend access roads