Gilpin County Native Clinton Wenholz, former firefighter, coach, and sheriff’s officer, retired from the Sheriff’s Office on June 23, 2021, when he served his last shift as a law enforcement officer after 15 years.

Wenholz told The Mountain-Ear that he grew up in Gilpin County and graduated from school here. He bought a home in Gilpin County and coached sports for a number of years. He was a volunteer firefighter for more than five years, and was with the Central City Fire Department from 2003 to 2004. In 2006, he was hired at the Sheriff’s Office, where he has been for 15 years.

According to the SO press release, ever since he entered the police academy in 2001, he dreamed about getting that phone call from the captain that he’d be hired by the sheriff’s office. “It was my dream, the only thing I ever saw myself doing, the only thing I ever wanted to do.

“I was so passionate and proud about serving. I dreamed of climbing the ranks, an illustrious 30-year career,” he said. His biggest experience while with the Sheriff’s Office was apprehending two suspects outside the gas station on Highway 6. The suspects were armed with a rifle and they fled into the creek, so he waded in deep water and got them back up to the creek bank.

After 15 years, he decided to retire from working weekends, nights, holidays, and everything in between, sometimes serving a 12- or even a 16-hour shift without a meal, or even a bathroom break, missing dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and school events.

“Every shift, I hugged and kissed my wife and two young children goodbye, praying for safe return,” he said. “[I was] going out into unknown danger to protect you and your family and seeing things you couldn’t even imagine in your worst nightmares, all the while being hated, cursed, spat on, punched, assaulted, and have others try to end your life simply because you wear the badge.

“To be a police officer is to be underappreciated and misunderstood. To be criticized by the media and the public, your every move under surveillance, to be vilified for doing what is right and just, I was robbed of my passion. The fire in me died.

“I was an exemplary deputy, the kind every department needs and everyone wants on their team. I know I made my corner of the world a better place for the people I helped and the lives I touched.

“With the love and support of my family and friends every step of the way, I will transition to the next chapter.”

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong, said, “Thanks for giving 15 years to the citizens of Gilpin County. You will be missed. Thanks for everything.”