Boulder County Grapples with 2025 Surge in Overdose Death
Sep 10th
Boulder County, Colo. – A sharp rise in drug overdose deaths has alarmed Boulder County in 2025, with fentanyl and methamphetamine fueling the crisis. The Boulder County Coroner’s Office reported 25 overdose deaths in the first half of 2025, including 17 linked to fentanyl and 14 to methamphetamine, compared to 59 total deaths in 2024. Gunbarrel, Lafayette, and Superior each recorded one fentanyl-related death, with Gunbarrel also noting a methamphetamine fatality.
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn reported a 37% increase in suspected overdoses, with 38 cases by April, five fatal. The Boulder County Drug Task Force found no evidence of a specific tainted batch, complicating prevention efforts. Fentanyl’s growing presence in illicit drugs, often mixed with methamphetamine to heighten addiction, is driving the surge, authorities say.
Jann Scott, Boulder’s foremost expert in drug addiction recovery, criticized the city and county for their lack of effective programs. “Neither the city nor county are leveraging Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, or Alcoholics Anonymous in treating addicts,” Scott said. He added that Mental Health Partners’ Addiction Recovery Center and drug courts have failed to address the crisis adequately, leaving a gap in comprehensive recovery support.
Despite a 30% drop in fentanyl deaths in 2024, credited to naloxone distribution and community outreach, the 2025 uptick has renewed urgency. City councilmembers are pushing for strategic use of opioid settlement funds to bolster prevention and treatment. Community leaders stress the need for sustained collaboration to address systemic failures and expand access to proven recovery programs. Without immediate action, Boulder risks further loss in this escalating public health crisis.
Boulder to lose millions Maintains Sanctuary City Status Amid Federal Funding Threats
Sep 8th
BOULDER, Colo. — As of September 2025, Boulder has not lost specific federal funding solely due to its sanctuary policies. However, since January 2025, the Trump administration has threatened to withhold tens of millions in grants, with $55 million in federal funds for housing, transportation, and social services in limbo as of March. The University of Colorado Boulder has faced over 50 grant cancellations or stop-work orders in 2025, totaling $30 million in losses, linked to broader federal actions against sanctuary jurisdictions.
As of September 8, 2025, Boulder, Colorado, has not reversed its sanctuary city status, despite federal threats to withhold funding. The city, which formalized its sanctuary policy in January 2017, continues to limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as confirmed by city officials. No council vote to repeal the policy has occurred, though recent discussions and federal actions have heightened tensions.
On May 30, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) listed Boulder among 39 Colorado counties and 14 cities as “sanctuary jurisdictions” for allegedly obstructing federal immigration laws. Boulder County Commissioners defended the designation, stating, “If being a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’ means we support due process and human rights, we are proud of that moniker,” criticizing DHS’s “baseless claims.” No formal non-compliance notification has been issued.
As of September 2025, Boulder has not lost specific federal funding solely due to its sanctuary policies. However, since January 2025, the Trump administration has threatened to withhold tens of millions in grants, with $55 million in federal funds for housing, transportation, and social services in limbo as of March. The University of Colorado Boulder has faced over 50 grant cancellations or stop-work orders in 2025, totaling $30 million in losses, linked to broader federal actions against sanctuary jurisdictions.
On June 10, 2025, the Boulder City Council discussed its sanctuary status in an executive session but made no policy changes. The 2017 ordinance, prohibiting city employees, including police, from assisting ICE unless required by law, remains in effect. Colorado state law further limits local police involvement in federal immigration enforcement. The Department of Justice sued Colorado and Denver in May 2025 over sanctuary policies, though federal judges have temporarily blocked funding cuts. Boulder’s estimated 7,000 immigrant residents face uncertainty as legal and financial challenges persist.
Boulder’s Police Pay Woes Persist Amid Rising Crime
Sep 3rd
Boulder Sept 3, 2025 The City of Boulder and the Boulder Police Officers Association (BPOA) finalized a new contract for 180 officers and sergeants, ratified with a modest 4.75% salary increase for 2026.
Non-economic terms, settled in June, will also be included. City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde hailed the agreement as a testament to mutual commitment to public safety,
Non-economic terms, settled in June, will also be included. City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde hailed the agreement as a testament to mutual commitment to public safety,
Signature:
emphasizing proactive community policing. However, the deal fails to address Boulder’s chronic underpayment of its police force, leaving the department 20 officers short. BPOA President Officer Bryan Plyter acknowledged the preserved healthcare protections but noted the salary bump falls below the independent arbitrator’s recommendation. Despite the raise, officers’ pay lags behind regional standards, fueling retention and recruitment struggles.
The compromise—between the city’s 4% and the union’s 6% offer—reflects Boulder’s projected $7.5 million 2026 budget deficit, balancing economic pressures with fiscal constraints. Rivera-Vandermyde recognized inflation’s toll on employees, expressing hope for future raises as finances improve. Yet, the shortfall in competitive pay continues to hamstring the department. With 20 vacant positions, response times lag, and crime rates climb. Boulder’s streets see criminals roaming freely, emboldened by an understaffed force stretched thin.
The city’s focus on fiscal caution overlooks the urgent need for robust public safety investment. The agreement averts a ballot measure, ensuring stability but not satisfaction. Boulder’s police remain underpaid, understaffed, and overwhelmed, as the city grapples with rising crime and a strained budget. Plyter vowed to keep pushing for fair compensation, but for now, officers face mounting challenges with inadequate support, leaving the community vulnerable. The contract, while a step, falls short of addressing the deeper crisis threatening Boulder’s safety.
