Sheriff presents year-end figures showing more bookings, increased DUIs and rising search-and-rescue costs

LANDER/RIVERTON, Wyo. — Fremont County's sheriff delivered a year-end operations update to the county commission on Feb. 17 that included inmate counts, booking sources, crime statistics and growing search-and-rescue costs.

The sheriff reported a jail population snapshot and said 2,951 prisoners were booked during the last calendar year; average daily population figures were given and current staffing gaps were noted. Of the bookings in a recent 67-day window, the Riverton Police Department accounted for the largest share, followed by the sheriff's office and Lander Police.

The report listed 7,066 calls for service in 2025 and tallied 759 citations issued. DUI arrests rose to 89 from 61 the previous year. The sheriff also reported increases in drug-possession citations and in some categories of major crime but said most major cases had clearance rates noted in the report.

Search-and-rescue mission counts increased to 31 in the reporting period (from 21 the prior year) with four fatalities; mission costs rose sharply (noted as roughly $6,000 in a prior year versus $99,000 most recently) and county staff will pursue reimbursement through the Wyoming State Search and Rescue Council.

The sheriff addressed dispatch staffing and plans to strengthen connectivity between Lander and Riverton dispatch centers and noted concealed-weapon permits and registered offender counts for the county.

What happens next: Commissioners acknowledged increased mission costs and asked about options, including state-level permitting or federal/forest-service coordination for technical rescue areas. The sheriff said he would provide additional detail or follow up as requested.