Recently, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard hosted a comprehensive three-day Honor Guard workshop, bringing together more than 80 law enforcement officers and first-responder partners from 17 agencies across Colorado for advanced ceremonial training.
Throughout the three-day training, participants received hands-on instruction in a wide range of Honor Guard disciplines, including flag protocol, volley detail, marching and commands, the Blue Rose Ceremony, parade detail operations, Manual of Arms, advanced drill techniques, casket guard and relief procedures, among others.
On the final day, attendees applied their newly acquired skills during a full-scale mock funeral service. This realistic exercise included a traditional hearse and a fire engine apparatus, allowing participants to demonstrate coordinated ceremonial operations in a formal setting.
“This workshop reflects our unwavering commitment to honoring those who serve with dignity, precision, and respect, and the community we serve,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “I want to personally thank our deputies and officers whose dedication and hard work made this workshop possible. Their commitment to excellence reflects the pride they take in honoring fallen heroes. I also extend my sincere appreciation to our community partners and the many agencies who participated and recognized the value of this important training opportunity. By training alongside our law enforcement and first responder partners from across Colorado, we strengthen not only our ceremonial capabilities, but also the bonds between agencies who stand together in times of loss and remembrance.”
The workshop featured experienced instructors from the Colorado Springs Fire Department, Colorado Springs Police Department, Monument Fire Protection District, Summit County Fire and EMS, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. These agencies collaborated to deliver in-depth instruction focused on enhancing professionalism, precision, and interagency coordination during ceremonial and memorial services.
“Our Honor Guard remains committed to honoring fallen heroes with the highest standards of decorum and is proud to support continued training and collaboration among Colorado’s law enforcement and first responder agencies,” stated Sheriff Roybal.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend its sincere thanks to our partners at New Life Church, Swan Law Funeral Home, and Shield616 for their generous support throughout the three-day workshop. Their assistance and continued partnership played a vital role in the success of this training.
Participating agencies from outside El Paso County Sheriff’s Office included the Teller County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Fire and EMS, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Junction Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Loveland Police Department, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Veterans Affairs Police, Broomfield Police Department, Durango Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado Springs Fire Department, Monument Fire Protection District, and the Colorado Springs Police Department.