FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  August 23, 2018
Contact: Erin Opsahl
(970) 423-8901
Erin.Opsahl@SummitCountyCO.Gov

SHERIFF JAIME FITZSIMONS ANNOUNCES MIKE SCHILLING AS NEW OPERATIONS COMMANDER

SUMMIT COUNTY, CO – On August 22, 2018, Summit County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Schilling was selected for the position of Commander of the Operations Division. This command level position drew the interest of several highly qualified internal and external applicants. A competitive applicant testing process was completed to select the applicant best suited for this great opportunity.

A twenty-year resident of Summit County, Mike Schilling was born in Paducah, Kentucky and raised in Naperville, Illinois. He attended The University of Iowa completing a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Finance in 1999. Mike’s experience in organizational leadership began shortly after graduation where he held the role of Assistant Vice-President at Firstbank of Breckenridge from 1999 to 2002. From 2002 to 2016, Mike led Breckenridge based Valdaro Development, LLC as its President where his responsibilities included, but were not limited to all aspects of project management, budgeting, finance, legal, and management leadership.

After nearly eighteen years working in the business world, Mike felt a call to service and made a 180 degree turn with his life to pursue a career in law enforcement. Upon obtaining his Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification through Red Rocks Community College Police Academy in 2016, he immediately began working as a Patrol Deputy for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Mike is a proud member of the Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard and has a passion for honoring the service and sacrifices of others.

Mike has a long history of making a difference in the Summit County community. He has worked collaboratively with community partners in his role as both Board Member and President of the Summit Foundation from 2012 to 2017. He was the Co-Chair of the Local Organizing Committee for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in 2011 and 2012. Mike was also a member of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Advisory Committee from 2009 to 2016 and served as a Summit County Upper Blue Planning Commissioner from 2012 to 2014.

Summit County Sheriff, Jaime FitzSimons stated, “Aside from his policing experience, Mike compliments the existing Command Staff with excellent communication skills and a strong and proven successful background in organizational leadership and management, organizational development, budget and finance, policy development and implementation and human resources. My team is full!”

Mike and his wife, Amy Freeman, live in unincorporated Summit County near Breckenridge with Greta, a standard poodle. Mike is a regular competitor in Summit Mountain Challenge bike races and is a past overall series champion. In the winter he spends his free time on skis to keep fit and always looks forward to endurance events such as Frisco Gold Rush Nordic ski race and the 5 Peaks Ski Mountaineering Race.

“The Sheriff’s Office is honored to have selected one of our own for this vital position within our organization. The successful promotion of Commander Schilling is a testament to our organizational dedication to developing, empowering and encouraging our employees.” Shared Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons today during a well-attended staff meeting.

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