Sterling Police add county detective, Holyoke officer to force

Sterling Police added two experienced officers to a 23-sworn-officer department that runs around the clock across the largest city in northeastern Colorado.

Detective AJ McGuffin came to Sterling from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, giving the department a familiar local law-enforcement background rooted in the county it serves. Mitchell Emrick joined from the Holyoke Police Department, bringing experience from another northeastern Colorado agency. The department said both officers will have an official uniform swearing-in ceremony in June 2026.

The hires matter beyond the ceremony. Sterling Police says it operates 24/7 with 23 sworn officers and 6 civilian employees, a staffing level that leaves little room for slack when calls stack up. Adding a detective points to more capacity for investigations and follow-up work, while a new patrol officer can help steady coverage for routine calls, traffic enforcement and neighborhood problems that often linger after the first response. For a city the size of Sterling, every new sworn position can affect how quickly officers get to calls and how much time they can spend on casework.

McGuffin’s move is the most recognizable local connection in the announcement. A detective coming from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office already knows the geography, the agencies and many of the people who move between county and city cases. Sterling Police also listed McGuffin on its divisions page, placing him within the department’s existing structure rather than as a brand-new arrival to the area.

The department has also framed its work as a community effort, saying public safety depends on partnerships. Residents who need immediate assistance can call the Sterling Police Department at (970) 522-3512, and emergencies still go to 911. Most police records are also available to the public, including common requests such as accident and case reports, another sign that the department is handling both daily response and the paperwork that follows it.

With McGuffin and Emrick set for formal swearing-in later this year, Sterling Police is signaling that it is still building out its roster, one hire at a time, to keep pace with the city’s demand for patrol, investigations and public service.