To the Citizens of Gilpin County,

I had the opportunity to work alongside Sergeant Zach Meyer for approximately nine years during my 28-year career with the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, where I served as Administrative Manager and Public Information Director. During those years, I came to know Zach not only as a law enforcement professional, but as someone whose integrity, work ethic, leadership, and commitment to his community were consistently evident.

Zach approaches his responsibilities with professionalism and a strong sense of duty. I observed firsthand his willingness to work hard, accept responsibility, and step forward when leadership was needed. His experience with the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office has included both supervisory and administrative responsibilities, giving him an understanding of the agency that extends beyond the day-to-day duties of a deputy.

Zach's service began well before his law enforcement career. As a United States Marine, he developed the discipline, resilience, accountability, and ability to lead under pressure that he later brought to his work in public safety.

His commitment to Gilpin County is also demonstrated by the time he has given outside of his regular duties. Zach served as a volunteer with both the Central City Fire Department and Timberline Fire Protection District. To me, that speaks to something important about his character: his commitment to this community has not been limited to a job or a uniform. He has invested his own time in serving the people and the community where he lives.

There may be differences between the candidates when their credentials are compared on paper. What I can speak to personally is the value of Zach's practical, frontline experience. He has worked the roads, interacted directly with our residents, worked alongside the men and women of the Sheriff's Office, and experienced firsthand the challenges they face. That experience has given him a practical understanding of what deputies and staff need in order to be successful, as well as an understanding of what members of our community expect from their Sheriff's Office. Leadership in law enforcement is not developed solely through titles or credentials; it is also shaped through years of listening, serving, making decisions, solving problems, and earning the trust of the people you work with and the community you serve.

Over the nine years that I worked with Zach, I had the opportunity to see his character and work ethic in the everyday circumstances that often tell you far more about a person than a résumé ever could. I found him to be dependable, engaged, hardworking, and committed to serving others.

As someone who spent 28 years working within the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, I believe experience, integrity, accountability, leadership, and a genuine connection to the community are important qualities for anyone seeking the responsibility of Sheriff. My years working with Zach gave me the opportunity to personally observe those qualities in him.

Cherokee Blake

Gilpin County