Hello, I am Matt Archuleta and I am running for Coroner of Jefferson County.
I am a Colorado native and come from a large family. I was raised in Aurora and after high school began seeking a degree in Architectural Engineering. It was a challenging time in my life and engineering just wasn’t for me. My sister reminded me of my love for policing as I recalled writing my dad pretend parking tickets and making siren noises as I rode my bicycle around the block. I turned my attention to a degree in Criminal Justice, attending Metropolitan State College. Instantly I loved the topic and it was clear this was my calling. Graduating Magna Cum Laude, I was hired by the Arvada Police Department in 1989 and was assigned to Patrol.
Through the years that followed I worked all hours of the day and night and all days of the week answering calls for service and working to keep the community safe. A supervisor recognized my abilities in DUI enforcement and soon I was seeking certification as a Drug Recognition Expert and working as a DUI Officer. As more time passed, my interest in stopping impaired driving grew, but so did an interest in solving crime. Through friendships and associations built within policing I began attending training of various topics in the area of Crime Scene Investigation. It seemed to go hand-in-hand with DUI enforcement with its emphasis on evidence detection, collection, and superior report writing.
I continued down the CSI path until my efforts were once again recognized within the police department. I was invited to be placed on-call for after-hours call outs for crime scenes. In 2010 I was the on-call investigator when a call of a shooting came in. It was a homicide and I immediately went to work. All through the night I worked while detectives looked for a suspect. I was surprised in the morning that the lead detective wanted me to stay in charge of the investigation even though I was currently assigned to Patrol. That case ultimately led to a successful prosecution and was a stepping stone for me to transition into the crime lab full time a year later.
About the same time I met the love of my life and soon after we were married. Hard to believe that was 12 years ago! We have an 8 year old daughter and live in Jefferson County, learning every day how to balance work with family life. I am truly blessed.
In the past 10 years I’ve seen a lot as a Crime Scene Detective and have worked hard to make my department a leader in the region in CSI. I work with an amazing crew that defines dedication. I still love policing and believe strongly in customer service, something that sometimes gets forgotten in all that can go on in an investigation.
Of course, through the years I have investigated many deaths and have had the opportunity to work side-by-side with the Jefferson County Coroner’s office. I’ve built a strong working relationship with the members of that office and am excited about the possibility of supporting their team.
I feel this is the next step in my career. Death investigation needs to be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, but also requires a level of care and compassion that I can deliver. I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of Jefferson County. I will bring the leadership, communication, and investigative skills I’ve gained throughout my career to the office of Coroner. Thank you for your support!
I am a Colorado native and come from a large family. I was raised in Aurora and after high school began seeking a degree in Architectural Engineering. It was a challenging time in my life and engineering just wasn’t for me. My sister reminded me of my love for policing as I recalled writing my dad pretend parking tickets and making siren noises as I rode my bicycle around the block. I turned my attention to a degree in Criminal Justice, attending Metropolitan State College. Instantly I loved the topic and it was clear this was my calling. Graduating Magna Cum Laude, I was hired by the Arvada Police Department in 1989 and was assigned to Patrol.
Through the years that followed I worked all hours of the day and night and all days of the week answering calls for service and working to keep the community safe. A supervisor recognized my abilities in DUI enforcement and soon I was seeking certification as a Drug Recognition Expert and working as a DUI Officer. As more time passed, my interest in stopping impaired driving grew, but so did an interest in solving crime. Through friendships and associations built within policing I began attending training of various topics in the area of Crime Scene Investigation. It seemed to go hand-in-hand with DUI enforcement with its emphasis on evidence detection, collection, and superior report writing.
I continued down the CSI path until my efforts were once again recognized within the police department. I was invited to be placed on-call for after-hours call outs for crime scenes. In 2010 I was the on-call investigator when a call of a shooting came in. It was a homicide and I immediately went to work. All through the night I worked while detectives looked for a suspect. I was surprised in the morning that the lead detective wanted me to stay in charge of the investigation even though I was currently assigned to Patrol. That case ultimately led to a successful prosecution and was a stepping stone for me to transition into the crime lab full time a year later.
About the same time I met the love of my life and soon after we were married. Hard to believe that was 12 years ago! We have an 8 year old daughter and live in Jefferson County, learning every day how to balance work with family life. I am truly blessed.
In the past 10 years I’ve seen a lot as a Crime Scene Detective and have worked hard to make my department a leader in the region in CSI. I work with an amazing crew that defines dedication. I still love policing and believe strongly in customer service, something that sometimes gets forgotten in all that can go on in an investigation.
Of course, through the years I have investigated many deaths and have had the opportunity to work side-by-side with the Jefferson County Coroner’s office. I’ve built a strong working relationship with the members of that office and am excited about the possibility of supporting their team.
I feel this is the next step in my career. Death investigation needs to be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, but also requires a level of care and compassion that I can deliver. I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of Jefferson County. I will bring the leadership, communication, and investigative skills I’ve gained throughout my career to the office of Coroner. Thank you for your support!