Colorado Department of Public Safety

What Colorado Department of Public Safety does

The Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS) is a cabinet-level state government department headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, that delivers statewide public-safety services through six organizational units: the Executive Director's Office, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM). The Office of School Safety and the Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information System (CICJIS) operate as additional sub-units. CDPS serves Colorado residents, local law-enforcement agencies (64 county sheriffs and municipal departments), emergency-management coordinators, schools, and employers requiring background checks. Core functional offerings include highway patrol and traffic enforcement, criminal investigations and forensic laboratory analysis, fire prevention and wildfire suppression, all-hazard emergency management, victim services, and school-safety consultation. The department operates with a combined annual budget of approximately $622 million and a workforce of roughly 2,130 full-time equivalents distributed across divisions (CSP 1,228.6; CBI 393.3; DFPC 152.9; EDO 147.1; DHSEM 118.7; DCJ 89.5).

The department's technology footprint centers on CICJIS — an integrated criminal-justice information system standardizing data and communications across law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and corrections — and the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC), a multi-threat intelligence fusion hub. CBI operates internationally accredited forensic laboratories covering DNA, toxicology, firearms, and trace evidence. Supporting platforms include FEPMIS (federal excess-property management) and AMPS (account management for the 1033 program). The department also administers federal pass-through programs — 1033 LESO under 10 U.S.C. 2576a and 1122 procurement under 10 U.S.C. 281 — enabling state and local agencies to acquire DoD excess property and federal-pricing equipment with savings of 6–54% over retail. Specialized initiatives include the Cold Case Task Force, a Trusted Interoperability Platform Advisory Committee (SB 2020-037) bridging justice and health-agency data exchange, the Colorado First Responder Death Benefit Program (SB 25-310), and a DoD SkillBridge internship pipeline.

CDPS is funded through Colorado state government appropriations rather than commercial revenue, with the Executive Director appointed by the Governor and reporting through the cabinet. Nominal fee income is generated from CORA records requests ($0.25/page, $41.37/hour), CBI background-check services, and concealed-handgun permit processing routed through counties. Federal programs (1033/1122) and grants augment appropriations but are not material to total funding. Service distribution is direct and statewide — highway patrol via troopers, forensic and investigative support via regional offices (Denver, Greeley, Pueblo, Grand Junction), emergency management via county coordinators, and records requests via online portals. Current leadership comprises Executive Director Stan Hilkey (appointed 2014, reappointed 2019), Interim Deputy Executive Director Ingrid Barrier (appointed May 2026), CBI Director Armando Saldate III (appointed July 2025), CSP Chief Matthew Packard, DCJ Director Dr. Matt Lunn, DFPC Director Mike Morgan, and DHSEM Director Kevin Klein.

Name

Colorado Department of Public Safety

Legal name

Colorado Department of Public Safety

Website

https://publicsafety.colorado.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Colorado Department of Public Safety is a state government agency delivering statewide public-safety services through six divisions, including highway patrol, criminal investigations, forensic laboratories, fire prevention, emergency management, and school safety, serving Colorado residents, local agencies, and employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety Services

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Police Protection (922120), Fire Protection (92216), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (9221)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Public Safety & Emergency Management (Police, Fire, EMS Oversight) (BPAIABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

Keywords

• Public safety services
• Law enforcement support
• Emergency management
• Fire prevention control
• Criminal justice information

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: CDPS is funded through Colorado state government appropriations and tax revenues. The department operates with an annual budget allocated by the state legislature, distributed across six divisions. Total combined budget is approximately $622 million across all divisions.
2. Federal Grants and Programs: Administering federal programs including 1033 LESO (Law Enforcement Support Office) and 1122 Federal Procurement Program which provide equipment and procurement savings to state and local agencies
3. Records Request Fees: CDPS charges fees for Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests: maximum $0.25 per page for copies and $41.37 per hour for research and retrieval
4. Background Check Services: CBI provides criminal background checks and fingerprinting services to the public and organizations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS) is a state government department delivering public safety services statewide through five operational divisions and an Executive Director's Office. Its core offerings include highway patrol and traffic safety enforcement (Colorado State Patrol), criminal investigations and forensic laboratory services (CBI), fire prevention and wildfire suppression (DFPC), emergency management and homeland security coordination (DHSEM), criminal justice research and victim services (DCJ), and school safety resources (Office of School Safety). It also administers federal equipment transfer programs (1033 LESO, 1122), the First Responder Death Benefit Program, and integrated criminal justice information systems (CICJIS).

Product overview

The Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS) is a state government department consisting of six divisions that deliver public safety services across Colorado. The department operates five operational divisions (Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Division of Criminal Justice, and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management) plus the Executive Director's Office. CDPS provides law enforcement services (highway patrol, criminal investigations, forensic analysis), emergency management (all-hazard preparedness and response), fire prevention and suppression, criminal justice services (victim support, research, offender management), and school safety resources. The department also administers specialized programs including the 1033 LESO excess property program, 1122 federal procurement program, First Responder Death Benefit Program, Cold Case Task Force, and the Trusted Interoperability Platform for justice-to-health information exchange. Internship and career pathways span law enforcement, forensic science, emergency management, communications, and administrative professions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colorado State Patrol (CSP) State law enforcement agency that promotes safety, protects lives, and preserves state highways through traffic safety enforcement, criminal interdiction, automobile theft prevention, hazardous materials enforcement, executive and capitol security, and smuggling/trafficking interdiction programs.
• Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) State investigative agency providing law enforcement services to local, state, and federal agencies, including statewide criminal justice information management, criminal investigation assistance, background checks, and an internationally-accredited forensic laboratory system.
• Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) Division focused on safeguarding lives and reducing fire threats through code enforcement, wildfire preparedness and suppression, training and certification programs, public education, and technical assistance to local governments.
• Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Division providing services to crime victims, conducting criminal justice research and analysis, and supporting offender management, including grants management, data collection, victim assistance, and standards for community corrections, sex offender management, and domestic violence offender management.
• Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Division providing leadership for all-hazard emergency preparedness, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery from natural disasters and human threats, including the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center and the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC).
• Colorado Office of School Safety (OSS) Office providing free consultation, resources, training, and technical assistance to foster safe and secure learning environments, positive school climates, and early intervention to prevent crisis situations for pre-K through higher education schools.
• Colorado First Responder Death Benefit Program Program providing death benefits to survivors of fallen first responders through an online application system designed to impose the least possible burden while gathering required information.
• 1033 LESO Excess Property Program Program administered by CDPS enabling Colorado law enforcement agencies to acquire Department of Defense excess equipment through the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO), governed by federal guidelines 10 U.S.C. 2576a.
• 1122 Federal Procurement Program Program enabling state and local government agencies to procure vehicles and other goods through General Services Administration (GSA) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) federal price agreements, offering savings of 6% to 54% over retail prices.
• Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) Request System Records request system allowing public access to government records, with CDPS charging a maximum of $0.25 per page for copies and $41.37 per hour for research and retrieval, with the first hour provided at no cost.
• Cold Case Task Force Task force providing public awareness, victim support, investigative best practices, and case review to create forward momentum in solving cold cases and bringing justice for victims and their loved ones.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2023 Annual Performance Report and FY2027 Performance Plan demonstrate measurable goals across all divisions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado Local Law Enforcement AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDPS coordinates with county sheriffs, municipal police departments, and other local law enforcement agencies across Colorado. The department provides investigative support, forensic services, criminal justice information sharing, and training that local agencies may lack capacity for. This is a core operational partnership enabling statewide public safety coordination.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBI works with FBI on joint investigations, intelligence sharing, and law enforcement coordination. The partnership enables access to federal resources and databases for criminal investigations.
• Department of Defense - Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDPS administers Colorado's participation in the federal 1033 Program, facilitating transfer of excess DoD property to law enforcement agencies. The Compliance & Professional Standards Office coordinates this program which enables Colorado agencies to acquire equipment supporting law enforcement activities.
• General Services Administration (GSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDPS administers the 1122 Federal Procurement Program enabling state and local agencies to purchase equipment through GSA federal price agreements, achieving savings of 6-54% over retail prices.
• Colorado Behavioral Healthcare CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Trusted Interoperability Platform Advisory Committee, working to develop secure information exchange between criminal justice systems and community health agencies to improve outcomes for individuals in the justice system.
• Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIAC serves as a central hub for threat information sharing among public sector, private sector, local, tribal and federal partners. Partners include State Court Administrator, CORHIO (health information exchange), County Sheriffs, and DORA.
• State Court AdministratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICJIS coordinates with the State Court Administrator as part of the integrated criminal justice information system connecting law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
• Department of Defense SkillBridge ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDPS participates in the DoD SkillBridge program, providing military service members internship opportunities during their last 180 days of service to gain civilian work experience in public safety roles.
• Navy Crane Naval Surface Warfare CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministered through the Navy's Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, the Night Vision Program enables local law enforcement agencies to lease night vision equipment for $300 per item per year.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Washington State Patrol: Washington State Patrol provides statewide law enforcement, criminal investigations, and forensic laboratory services, comparable to CDPS's combined CSP and CBI functions for a similar Western state population.
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas DPS combines state law enforcement, criminal investigations, and emergency management under a single cabinet-level department, closely mirroring CDPS's structure across highway patrol, investigations, and emergency preparedness divisions.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement: FDLE provides statewide criminal investigative, forensic, and information-sharing services comparable to CBI and DCJ, while coordinating with highway patrol and emergency management partners across Florida counties.
• Arizona Department of Public Safety: Arizona DPS combines highway patrol, criminal investigations, and emergency management for a neighboring Western state with similar geography, population distribution, and wildfire exposure profile to Colorado.
• New York State Police: New York State Police delivers statewide patrol, criminal investigations, and specialized support to local agencies, comparable in mandate and operational model to Colorado State Patrol within CDPS.
• California Highway Patrol / CalOES: California's combined state law enforcement and emergency management apparatus is the most direct analogue to CDPS, integrating highway patrol (CHP), emergency services (CalOES), and specialized investigative functions at comparable scale for a larger state population.
• Pennsylvania State Police: Pennsylvania State Police provides statewide law enforcement, criminal investigation, and forensic services, comparable to CDPS's CSP and CBI divisions in offering both patrol and investigative capabilities across an entire state.
• Ohio Department of Public Safety: Ohio's Department of Public Safety integrates highway patrol, criminal investigation, fire marshal, and emergency management functions under a single cabinet agency, structurally analogous to CDPS's six-division organization.

Broad incumbents

• Federal Bureau of Investigation: The FBI is a federal-level partner and broad incumbent operating across overlapping investigative and information-sharing domains (CBI works directly with the FBI on joint investigations and intelligence sharing), but at national scale rather than Colorado-specific.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA is the federal counterpart to CDPS's DHSEM, providing all-hazard emergency preparedness, response, and recovery coordination at the national level, with DHSEM operating as Colorado's primary state-level interface.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cdpsjobs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-department-of-public-safety

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Department of Public Safety