SOUTH FORK— Equipped with nearly two decades of law enforcement experience, Colorado native Coty Arthur was sworn in at 9 a.m. on Jan. 2 to become the new South Fork Chief of Police. Don Allee, the town’s municipal judge, conducted the proceedings to fill the position.

According to Arthur, his biggest goal for the department and the town is “to improve our communication with citizens and businesses. It makes it much easier for us if we have good communication within the community.”

Kicking off a new initiative on Saturday, Dec. 29, Arthur hosted the first Coffee with a Cop session at the Two Rivers BBQ. In addition to Arthur, Rio Grande County Sheriff-Elect Don McDonald joined police and fire department personnel for the casual gathering.

The Coffee with a Cop concept, Arthur said, “improves communication. People can raise problems or ask questions, and we can sit down and discuss them in a casual environment without having to go to the station.”

Residents mingled with Arthur and other staff while enjoying breakfast and Black Powder coffee. Recognized by patrons, the new police chief is certainly not new to South Fork. Nor is he new to the profession. Arthur began his law enforcement career in northeastern Colorado 18 years ago, working for the Washington County sheriff’s department in Akron. In addition to a Colorado prison job, Arthur led a regional SWAT team and assisted with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force during his