Summit County Sheriff's Office Command Staff

The Summit County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons, Undersheriff Peter Haynes, Support Services Commander Tom Whalen, Operations Commander Scott Wagner,  Detentions Commander Jake Straw, and Animal Control Director Lesley Hall.

Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons 2022


Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons


“At the core of law enforcement is the safety and wellbeing of the people we represent. To achieve that goal, we must be responsive to the people, we must be believable, and we must be trusted to perform our duty with uniform fairness and justice to all.” 

-  Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons

Jaime was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1990 and served the City of Los Angeles until 2005 when he moved with his family to Summit County and joined the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Since 2016, he has served as the elected Sheriff of Summit County.

 Jaime is a strategic and forward-thinking experienced law enforcement professional with a strong leadership presence and excellent interpersonal skills. He directs the work of 100 law enforcement and civilian employees in their duties to serve the residents and visitors of Summit County, Colorado. 

Jaime has built his organization from his community-oriented view and policies, and the organization exhibits his professional attitude, fair and consistent visionary leadership style. Self-confidence and the highest levels of integrity while serving the public with humility has been the hallmark promoted within the organization. He is team-oriented, possesses exceptional communication skills, employs data-driven decision-making, and is committed to transparency within the organization and community. He has proven to be resilient in the face of extraordinary challenges. 

Jaime is uniquely accessible and a visible member of the community. He works collaboratively to meet residents' high expectations in a vibrant urban environment that is growing, supportive, and increasingly multi-cultural and diverse. 

Perhaps most important is the product of his leadership: duty, honor, integrity, and the very positive results created by his example and reflected by so many team members.  

Jaime enjoys the year-round outdoor activities that Summit County offers, such as skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, running, and hiking. Central to Jaime’s personality is his love of community, whether it is local residents, business owners and ranchers, visitors, or people experiencing homelessness, behavioral health crises, substance use disorders, or a passing stranger. Every individual has value to Jaime and accordingly he and his organization treat every individual with kindness, dignity, and respect. 

Undersheriff Peter Haynes

Peter Haynes was born and raised in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, where he enjoyed skiing, riding bikes, and playing soccer. He started his Law Enforcement career in 1987 and worked for the Simsbury Police Department from 1988-2008. Haynes served in various roles with the Simsbury PD including Patrol, Community Relations, Recruitment and Training, as a Team Leader on a Regional SWAT team and on a Regional Undercover Drug Task Force.

During his tenure with the Simsbury Police Department he was promoted through to the ranks of Patrolman First Class, Corporal, Patrol Sergeant and Training Sergeant. Haynes feels fortunate to have worked with a very progressive police department and in so many different roles.


Haynes website
Haynes moved to Summit County in 2008 and worked for the Frisco Police department for a year before taking a position with Vail Resorts. He worked for Vail Resorts for 10 years, most recently holding the position of Director of Security for Breckenridge and Keystone Resorts. Haynes oversaw all security operations both on the mountains and in the hospitality divisions. He also led the Security Best Practice group comprised of all Security managers across all of the Resorts owned and operated by Vail. He practiced and refined many of his leadership skills while working for Vail.

While working for Vail in the corporate world was a wonderful experience, Haynes is very excited to be returning to law enforcement and serving the citizens of Summit County.

In 2001, Haynes married his wife Shannon and they have two children. One in high school and one who is off at college. They all enjoy Nordic skiing and Haynes also serves as the President of the Summit Nordic Ski Club, a nonprofit helping kids at all levels of Nordic skiing. Haynes also enjoys backcountry skiing, riding road and mountain bikes, hiking and trail running and now watching soccer, either his son in college or any professional teams play.

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Support Services Commander   Tom Whelan

Tom Whelan was born in Anchorage, Alaska but raised in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. In 2004, Tom moved to Summit County to enjoy everything this county has to offer. In 2004, Tom began his career in Law Enforcement when he came to work at the Summit County Sheriff’s Office Detentions Division as a Detentions Deputy. In January of 2008, Tom attended the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Academy then began working in the Summit County Sheriff’s Office Operations Division where he held various roles, including Patrol Deputy, Field Training Officer, Field Training Coordinator, Patrol Sergeant and Operations Lieutenant, before being promoted to Operations Commander. Tom is also a member of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard.

Whelan website

Tom oversees the Criminal Investigations Section, the Special Operations Section, the System-wide Mental Awareness Response Team (SMART), School Resource Officers and the Records Section.

Tom married his wife, Karla, in 2009. They have a daughter, who is current enrolled in college in Denver. Tom enjoys riding his bike any chance he can and has recently taken up Nordic skiing. Tom also enjoys working out to stay fit and keep his mind clear, along with camping and spending time with Karla and their two dogs.

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Operations Division Commander Wagner websiteScott Wagner

Scott Wagner grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, admiring his father, who worked as a Detective and Special Investigator with the Nebraska State Patrol. 

After high school, Scott attended the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  Upon graduating from Indiana, Scott moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked as an Emergency Medical Technician on the Critical Care Transport Team at Children’s Memorial Hospital. 

In 2006, Scott and his wife moved to Summit County, a place Scott had come to call a second home from the frequent family ski vacations throughout his childhood.  

Since moving to Summit County, Scott and his wife have welcomed two children into this great community.  Scott and his family enjoy various family adventures, whether it be camping, or exploring all of what Colorado has to offer, while also balancing a busy sports and activity schedule for their children.

Commander Scott Wagner oversees the Operations Division, including the Patrol Section, Traffic Safety Section and Community Service Section of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.  Prior to his appointment of Commander, Scott has served as a Patrol Deputy, Field Training Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Special Operation Technician, Detective, and Operations Lieutenant.

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Detentions Commander Jake Straw

Commander Jake Straw is the Detentions Division Commander overseeing jail operations, STARR (Strategies to Avoid Relapse and Recidivism), and the Court Security Section of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.  Prior to the appointment to Commander, Jake was a Detentions Deputy, Patrol Deputy, School Resource Officer (SRO), Field Training Officer (FTO), and Patrol Sergeant, who oversaw the SRO and Traffic Safety Units. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Jake attained a Masters in Elementary Education in 2010, and had a short career as an educator before moving to Summit County. 

Straw website

He and his wife moved to Summit County together to find adventure and start a new life.  Jake began his law enforcement career with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office in 2013 and never looked back.  Since then, Jake and his wife have started a family with the birth of their daughter in 2021. 

An avid backcountry skier and snowboarder, Jake is also a local musician who has played in several groups within Summit as a drummer, percussionist, singer, and harmonica player.   Growing up in New England, he is a diehard Patriots fan and loves a good “lobstah” (lobster).

Jake is honored to be a part of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, an agency that is dedicated to the protection of this amazing community, and the progression of what it means to be a law enforcement officer.  Jake wishes to thank his family, friends, and community partners for the support throughout his years of service. 

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Animal Control Director Lesley Hall

Lesley Hall is the Director of the Animal Control Division. She oversees the animal control officers, who enforce Summit County animal control resolutions state statutes, as well as the Summit County Animal Shelter, which houses stray pets and operates a very successful adoption program.

Animal Control has 10 staff, more than 100 volunteers, a pre-K-12 humane education program and a Summit County Animal Response Team that trains to respond to disasters. The shelter takes an active role in promoting animal welfare by working with several other Colorado and out-of-state shelters as transfer partners. The shelter houses approximately 824 animals each year, 71 percent of which are adopted; 22 percent are redeemed by their owners.
Animal Control Director Lesley Hall
Hall has worked for Animal Control since 1988, when she started as an Animal Control Officer. She was promoted to Animal Control Supervisor in 1993, and to the Director position in 2010. Hall grew up in Independence, Ohio, with a strong interest in pets and wildlife and a desire to live in the Rocky Mountains. With these goals in mind, she earned a bachelor's of science degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management from the University of Wyoming and a commission as an Army Second Lieutenant. During her college years, she worked as a ranch hand outside of Cody, Wyoming. After graduating, she worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Wildlife International Inc. Hall served in the Colorado Army National Guard for eight years, obtaining the rank of Captain.