The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard hosted a three-day Honor Guard workshop in March, bringing together more than 80 law enforcement officers and first-responder partners from 17 agencies across Colorado for advanced ceremonial training.
The event aimed to enhance the skills of participants in various Honor Guard disciplines, such as 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. The training culminated with a full-scale mock funeral service that included a traditional hearse and fire engine apparatus to simulate coordinated ceremonial operations.
“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.”
Experienced instructors from several agencies—including 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—collaborated to deliver instruction focused on professionalism and interagency coordination during ceremonial 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 Roybal.
The Sheriff’s Office extended thanks to New Life Church, Swan Law Funeral Home, and Shield616 for their support during the workshop. Participating agencies included departments from Teller County Sheriff’s Office to Veterans Affairs Police.