Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons has been appointed to the board of directors of Mental Health Colorado, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental well-being and ensuring equitable access to mental health and substance-use care, according to a Summit County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Mental Health Colorado advocates for all Coloradans who experience a mental health or substance-use condition, the release states. The organization engages policymakers, providers, the public and the press, with efforts ranging from the state capitol to the classroom.

FitzSimons is a recognized statewide leader in mental health advocacy, particularly at the intersection of public safety, the release states. In 2018, he was appointed by Governor Jared Polis to represent the County Sheriffs of Colorado on the Colorado Substance Abuse and Response Task Force. In 2025, he was appointed by the governor to serve as the task force’s vice chair of criminal justice. In early 2025, FitzSimons was named Mental Health Colorado’s advocate of the year.

“Some of the most critical incidents we face happen at the crossroads of mental health crisis and public safety,” FitzSimons stated in the news release. “Supporting people in those moments has long been a priority for me. I’m honored to join the board and look forward to advocating for improved access, stronger support systems, and real statewide change.”

FitzSimons will serve in a volunteer capacity, offering a public-safety perspective to statewide discussions on mental health and substance-use policy.

For more information about Mental Health Colorado, visit MentalHealthColorado.org.

To learn more about the Summit County Sheriff’s Office mental health initiatives, visit SummitSheriffColorado.gov.