When the Simms Fire burned out of control last May, the Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse was one of the most helpful resources Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry counted on to provide security coverage and help with evacuations. There was no similar group in Ouray County, but Perry has big plans to change that fact in 2023.

Applications for the Ouray County Sheriff’s Posse could open as soon as this month for the first time since the beginning of the millennium. Perry said the county previously...